seatbelts

[Kirstyhev]

when did seatbelts become the law to have in cars? i remember when i was younger my dad bought a car and it didnt have any seatbelts but we had to have them fitted

[kempie]

1983

[Clanad]

In the U.S. at least, they weren't required in the present form (lap belt and shoulder belt with standardized release mechanisms) until 1989 for all cars in all driver and passenger seats. Some car manufacturers offered them as optional equipment as early as 1956 and a few individual States required them in 1961, many States followed suit shortly....

[Ward-Minter]

your daddy was probably just being caring. Cars manufactured without seatbelts before the then new law were and STILL ARE exempt. i.e an old shape VW Beetle will be exempt.

[DirtyHabit]

I believe it was 1968 that seat belt had to be fitted to the front seats and that they also had to be retro fitted to cars from 1965.