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Volvo Cars, the inventor of the three-point safety seatbelt, is imploring drivers and passengers to buckle up this festive season. The country’s biggest seller of electric cars recently undertook a study to identify South African motorist behaviours and attitudes towards wearing the safety seatbelt.
The Volvo Car South Africa study found that 52% of 18-24 year-olds say they ‘sometimes or never wear a seatbelt’ and are the least aware of the legal requirement to wear one. This age group also had the highest confidence scores in their driving skills and ability. “More young drivers are on the road as they choose to use private transport, largely driven by accessible financing options and evolving consumer preferences. It’s imperative that we educate these young adults on the benefits of wearing a seatbelt,” said Felipe Yagi, Head of Marketing & Communications at Volvo Car South Africa.
Studies show that wearing a safety belt improves your chances of surviving a collision by 50%. “The seatbelt was designed to save lives, so, when Volvo invented it in 1959, the patent was made freely available to all car manufacturers. It’s a little bit of Volvo in every car today that has been protecting human life for decades since,” remarked Yagi.
According to the study, the ‘cool factor’ plays a significant role in seatbelt wearing; 14% of all car users (passengers and motorists) think wearing a seatbelt isn’t ‘cool’ when driving close to home. The ‘cool factor’ is evidently more important to men – 19% of male respondents believe wearing a seatbelt is not cool compared to 8% of women. Peer pressure plays a role in this, with respondents noting it’s unnecessary to wear a seatbelt when driving through “safe areas” or while parking, “especially when other people aren’t wearing theirs.”
Further research by Volvo shows the impact involved when driving at low speeds is higher than drivers may realise. A collision at 50 km/h corresponds to falling from the third floor of a building. “Being closer to home and driving at slower speeds does not mean you’re safer or your seatbelt is no longer necessary to wear,” points out Yagi.
The study also uncovered that passengers travelling in townships or informal settlement areas are most likely not to wear seatbelts, with 59% of respondents noting that they ‘sometimes or never’ buckle up.
“Interestingly, for South Africans, wearing a seatbelt in a familiar area can sometimes signify being an outsider or visitor. The seatbelt is often placed behind the back for those wanting to convey a sense of belonging. Naturally, this defeats the purpose of the safety device,” said Yagi.
Delving deeper
The 2023/24 festive season road traffic statistics reveal that individuals aged 25 to 39 make up approximately 41% of all road fatalities, representing the largest demographic among road accident victims
“Our study reveals that while 75% of this age group report always wearing a seatbelt while driving, compliance decreases as they approach home – 29% admit to removing their seatbelt closer to their destination,” commented Yagi.
Legal ramifications remain the biggest reason for respondents to put on seatbelts, with 40% noting they would buckle up because of a police or traffic checkpoint. Other reasons include adverse driving conditions, such as bad weather, traffic, and dangerous road conditions.
Looking back
In 2020, the Swedish manufacturer undertook a worldwide campaign to implore drivers to buckle up, including historical references to public responses to the safety seatbelt when it was first introduced in 1959. Some people argued that the seatbelt violated human rights, while others suggested that “it’s better to be thrown out than be trapped inside.” Some of these concerns still linger today despite evidence proving the contrary. “For example, rear three-point seatbelts reduce fatalities by 44%. It’s critical that passengers wear their seatbelts in order to avoid being thrown forward into the occupants in the front seats,” said Yagi. “A 27 kg child, in a 48 km/h impact, can produce the force of 1,2 tons – the equivalent of having an elephant in the back seat.”
2024 festive season
During the 2023/2024 festive season, over 1.4 million vehicles were stopped and checked during law enforcement operations, leading to 7,820 driver arrests for offences such as driving under the influence, reckless driving, and excessive speeding. “If we can convince drivers and passengers to buckle up this festive season, we have a simple and impactful way to contribute towards reducing road fatalities this year,” concluded Yagi.
ENDS