The Medical journal of Australia
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Compulsory seat belt wearing, first introduced in the world in Victoria in 1970, has effectively reduced the number of deaths and injuries for car occupants involved in motor vehicle crashes, whilst those for the unprotected pedestrian and pedal and motor cyclist have continued to increase. This legislation does not apply to children under the age of eight years, only 5.5% of whom travel restrained in motor cars, and their death and injury patterns remain unchanged. Seat belts offer the most remarkable protection for car occupants involved in frontal-impact collisions. ⋯ These include fracture of the clavicle, bruising and fracture of the sternum, cardiac tamponade, abdominal contusions and bowel lacerations. Seat belts, to be fully effective, must be fitted correctly. There is definite room for improvement in seat belt design.