The Punishment That Saved Many Lives
Today, seat belt use is a given for drivers. A few decades ago, it was a different story. It took a fine to persuade Germans to use them. Now, almost everyone wears a seat belt - but we could still do better.
It may seem surprising, but German drivers and passengers were once true seat belt "muffins". That changed abruptly 40 years ago, on August 1, 1984, when a 40 DM fine was introduced for front seat passengers not wearing seat belts. The Bjoern Steiger Foundation, which has been working to improve emergency and rescue services in Germany since the late 1960s, is now commemorating this anniversary.
The seat belt requirement was first introduced in West Germany in 1976, but was initially ignored by many car occupants. At the time, only 40% of front passengers wore seat belts in urban areas, with an overall rate of 60%. The introduction of the fine increased the rate to over 90%, and it is now around 99%. Despite this high rate, the foundation estimates that 200 more lives could be saved each year if everyone wore their seat belt. Today, the fine for not wearing a seat belt is 30 euros.
Great resistance to the introduction of the seat belt requirement
While the seat belt requirement is now widely accepted by the majority of drivers, it faced significant and largely irrational resistance from the public when it was introduced nearly 50 years ago.
However, the accident statistics spoke a clear language: From October 1984 to July 1985, the number of people killed in traffic accidents in Germany decreased by almost 1,500, and the number of seriously injured decreased by around 15,000. The enforcement of the seat belt requirement through fines is still considered the most successful individual measure for personal protection in traffic. Siegfried Brockmann, managing director of the Bjoern Steiger Foundation, therefore considers the introduction of the fine to be a politically courageous and historically significant measure.
The introduction of the 40 DM fine for not wearing seat belts in 1984 significantly increased the use of motor vehicles' seat belts among Germans. Today, despite the high rate of over 99% wearing seat belts, the Bjoern Steiger Foundation estimates that 200 more lives could be saved annually if everyone adhered to this safety measure.
Motor vehicle occupants faced resistance when the seat belt requirement was first introduced, viewing it as an unnecessary restriction. However, after observing a decrease in traffic accidents and fatalities following the enforcement of fines, public opinion largely shifted in favor of this safety measure.
