Abbyjah Zest Pacia 8-Edison

Science a Ms. Cortiguerra

PERFORMANCE TASK
SEATBELT LAW

SEATBELT LAW
Seatbelt legislations requires the fitting of seat belts to motor vehicles and the
wearing of seat belts by motor vehicle occupants. Laws requiring the fitting of seat belts
to cars have in some cases been followed by laws mandating their use, with the effect
that thousands of deaths on the road have been prevented. Different laws apply in
different countries to the wearing of seat belts.
1. HISTORY
Introduction
Belting up is now second nature to most people when they get in a vehicle but it took
many years of campaigning to get the first law on the statute books. This is a brief
history of how the battle for belts was won.
1973-74
A clause in the Conservative administrations Road Traffic Bill concerning seat belts was
introduced at Report stage in the Lords. The Bill was dropped on the dissolution of
Parliament in 1974.
1973-74
A similar clause was also included in the Labour administrations Road Traffic Bill. After
a close vote at Report stage in the Lords, the clause was removed. In the new
Parliament the Government introduced it as a separate Bill but the Second Reading
debate was adjourned and never completed.
1974-75
A successful Lords passage. This time the Bill was adjourned at the Second Reading in
the Commons. It was apparent that there was insufficient parliamentary time to discuss
the Bill in the 1974-75 session.
1975-76
John Gilbert, Minister of Transport, introduced a Road Traffic (Seat Belts) Bill in
February 1976. Later that year, in October, the Bill was due for its final Commons
stages. It was hastily withdrawn from business when an earlier vote showed that Only
99 MPs would be present instead of the necessary 100.
1976-77
Two more seat belts Bills were introduced in this session. Both failed. The first - in spite
of a majority of 110 at its Second Reading in the Commons - because of a decision to
abandon it. There were too few people in the House. The second - after a successful
passage through the Commons was defeated in the Lords by 55 votes to 53.
1978-79
In November 1978, Labour MP William Rodgers announced his intention to introduce a
seat belts Bill. It completed its First and Second Readings in the House of Commons
with a majority of almost 100. Labour lost the General Election in 1979 and their Bills
were shelved.
1979-80
Neil Carmichael introduced a Private Members Bill for seat belt compulsion during this
parliamentary session. A smooth passage through the Committee stage early in 1980
led to the Bill being talked out at the Report stage during September 1980.
1980
Lord Nugent of Guildford, RoSPAs President, introduced a Private Members Bill through
the Upper House. It gained a majority of 36 at the Second Reading. Yet again the Bill
failed for procedural reasons.
1981
Lord Nugent seized his chance with an amendment to the Transport Bill which
introduced seat belt wearing for a trial period of three years. RoSPA's president
triumphed and the Bill became lawat last.
January 31, 1983
The law on seat belt wearing came into force.
1986
Both Houses of Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of retaining the requirement
permanently.
1989
Regulations came into effect for mandatory rear seatbelt wearing by children.
1991
Wearing a seat belt in the back of a car became compulsory.

2. CONTENT OF THE LAW

Most seatbelt legislation in the US is left to the states. However, the first seat belt law
was a federal law,Title 49 of the United States Code, Chapter 301, Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard, which took effect on January 1, 1968, that required all vehicles (except
buses) to be fitted with seat belts in all designated seating positions. This law has since
been modified to require three-point seat belts in outboard seating positions, and finally
three-point seat belts in all seating positions. Initially, seat belt use was not compulsory.
NY was the first state to pass a law which required vehicle occupants to wear seat
belts, a law that came into effect on December 1, 1984.
U.S. seatbelt legislation may be subject to primary enforcement or secondary
enforcement. Primary enforcement allows a police officer to stop and ticket a driver if
he observes a violation. Secondary enforcement means that a police officer may only
stop or cite a driver for a seatbelt violation if the driver committed another primary
violation (such as speeding, running a stop sign, etc.) at the same time. New
Hampspire is the only U.S. state that does not by law require adult drivers to wear
safety belts while operating a motor vehicle.

3. SEC 1-6
Introductory Text
Payments for road safety
a. 1.Road safety grants
b. 2.Application of surplus income from safety camera enforcement
Fixed penalties
c. 3.Graduated fixed penalties
d. 4.Graduated fixed penalty points
e. 5.Giving of fixed penalty notices by vehicle examiners
f. 6.Goods vehicles operator licensing
g. 7.Public passenger vehicle licensing
New system of endorsement
h. 8.Driving record
i. 9.Unlicensed and foreign drivers
j. 10.All drivers
Deposits and prohibition on driving
k. 11.Financial penalty deposits
l. 12.Prohibition on driving: immobilisation, removal and disposal of vehicles
Drink-driving etc.
m. 13.High risk offenders: medical enquiries following disqualification
n. 14.Period of endorsement for failure to allow specimen to be tested
o. 15.Alcohol ignition interlocks
p. 16.Experimental period for section 15
Speeding
q. 17.Penalty points
r. 18.Speed assessment equipment detection devices
s. 19.Exemptions from speed limits
New offences
t. 20.Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving
u. 21.Causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers
v. 22.Offence of keeping vehicle which does not meet insurance
requirements
Increases in penalties
w. 23.Careless, and inconsiderate, driving
x. 24.Breach of requirements relating to children and seat belts
y. 25.Using vehicle in dangerous condition etc.
z. 26.Breach of requirements as to control of vehicle, mobile telephones etc.
aa. 27.Power of police to stop vehicle
bb. 28.Furious driving
cc. 29.Breach of duty to give information as to identity of driver etc.
Other provisions about offences
dd. 30.Meaning of driving without due care and attention
ee. 31.Extension of offence in section 3A of Road Traffic Act 1988
ff. 32.Alternative verdict on unsuccessful culpable homicide prosecution
gg. 33.Alternative verdict on unsuccessful manslaughter prosecution
Attendance on courses
hh. 34.Penalty points
ii. 35.Reduced disqualification period for attendance on course
Driving standards
jj. 36.Driving tests
kk. 37.Disqualification until test is passed
ll. 38.Granting of full licence
mm. 39.Compulsory surrender of old-form licences
nn. 40.Fee for renewal of photocard licence and issue of certain alternative
licences
oo. 41.Driver training
pp. 42.Driving instruction
qq. 43.Tests: approved assistants
Regulation of registration plate suppliers
rr. 44.Enforcement authorities
ss. 45.Registration plates
tt. 46.Extension to Scotland and Northern Ireland
Information
uu. 47.Particulars to be included in vehicles register
vv. 48.Records of goods vehicle examinations
ww. 49.Disclosure to foreign authorities of licensing and registration
information
Level crossings
xx. 50.Safety arrangements at level crossings
yy. 51.Delegation of power to make level crossing orders
Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles
zz. 52.Immediate suspension and revocation of drivers' licences
aaa. 53.Abolition of contract exemption
bbb. 54.Private hire vehicles in London
Miscellaneous
ccc. 55.Trunk road picnic areas
ddd. 56.Vehicles modified to run on fuel stored under pressure
eee. 57.Powers to regulate transport of radioactive material
fff. 58.Minor corrections
Supplementary
ggg. 59.Repeals and revocations
hhh. 60.Power to make amendments
iii. 61.Commencement
jjj. 62.Extent
kkk. 63.Short title