Seat belt rules for old cars?

**Blknight.aus** · 1st October 2010, 10:49 PM

the rough rule of thumb.

from about 1964-66 if seatbelts were an option on the front seats in the vehicle you were purchasing they had to be fitted.
from 66-68 you had to have them in the front seats some states only required the outside seats others required all of the front seats to be belted IF seatbelts were an option for the rear in some states they had to be fitted.
post 68 seat belts were mandatory in all seating positions except some types of sideways facing seats. I think but have never been able to confirm that this exemption ceased in the early 70's and was not the intent of the law but it was circumventable if your vehicle could seat more than 10 and be classed as an bus.

In all cases, where a seatbelt was fitted it was mandatory to wear it and have it properly adjusted. The driver was responsible for minors that were in the vehicle (I believe the cut off age was/is 13-15) and both the driver and the passanger not wearing a seatbelt can be fined if a passanger is not wearing a seatbelt. Pregnant women and some religions are permitted to not wear a seat belt, the pregnant woman no matter how obviously pregnant must provide a DR certificate if requested but all some towelhead has to do is advise that it interferes with whatever do gooder hippy spritual sacrament bunch of snot it is that gets them that exemption.

Personally If I see said towel head I am going to head on his car and as he lays there in agony Im going to ask him where is his god now and if he hadn't had his priority's tailendround he might not be on his way to see said deity right about now, Safety first people

**isuzurover** · 2nd October 2010, 12:26 AM

This is interesting, however if you click on the link it excludes vehicles not fitted with seat belts. However some cops may not be aware of this...

New seat belt law for Western Australia: Carriage of additional passengers

Carriage of additional passengers, where there are no seat belts or child restraints

New laws will come into effect on 1 October 2010, which will see new rules for the restraint of children and adults. These amendments follow those made at the national level under Australian Road Rules.

From 1 October 2010 onwards, only passengers that are sitting in a seat that is fitted with a seat belt or child restraint fastened properly will be permitted to be carried in the vehicle. No additional unrestrained passengers will be permitted and passengers can not share the same seat.

While there have been rules prohibiting the carriage of unrestrained passengers in the backs of utes, trucks and panel vans since 2006, there have been no restrictions in the case of more passengers in the main body of the vehicle than available seat belted positions.

This situation is of grave concern, given the importance of restraints in protecting occupants from injury in the event of a collision.

For more information see the following document.

New rules for drivers and passengers of motor vehicles - carriage of additional passengers, where there are no seat belts or child restraints (2 page PDF 155 K

Seat Belts - Office of Road and Safety

**Bigbjorn** · 2nd October 2010, 08:30 AM

ADR's required two lap/sash belts to the outer front seats in 1969 & 70. I think it was 71 or 72 that belts had to be fitted to all seating positions. Belts were exempt sales tax so our invoicing procedure at GM-H had to be modified to add seat belts to the bottom of the manufacturing section of the invoice after the taxable component and tax.

**raffranky** · 10th August 2011, 09:25 PM

Does any one know if my 1968 2a 109 soft top is required to be fitted with safety belts under Western Australian law

**tomisawesome** · 10th August 2011, 09:51 PM

My sister has a HD Holden (1965) that came from factory with the drivers seat belt (3 point, non retracting), optioned from factory. the passenger lower bolt holes were also there, but no high mount point. when they first brought out the new seatbelt laws, i called WA liscencing for info on what i needed to do. from memory they said that anybody sitting in the car needs to be wearing a seatbelt. regardless of if the vehicle was not fitted with seatbelts from factory. if anyone has a copy of the rules that says otherwise, i would love to hear it please, as i do not want to ruin her car.

**Mick_Marsh** · 10th August 2011, 10:35 PM

Vehicle standards information : VicRoads

VSI21 is the one you want.
In short, vehicles manufactured before 1/1/69 do not need to have seat belts unless they have already been fitted.

**UncleHo** · 13th August 2011, 08:57 AM

G'day Folks

In reply to the original question by "Sideroad",if you are registering your 1968 2a on full registration you do not need to have seatbelts fitted,as in Qld seatbelts were not compulsory to be fitted to sedans/wagons until 1969 and in Utilities/Commercials until 1/Jan/1972 E.G.(Falcon Ute regoed 31/12/71 NO Seatbelt required,Regoed 1/172 MUST be fitted with seatbelts)

As your Landrover is classed as a Commercial Vehicle (built on a Commercial Chassis) it did/does not require seatbelts

THIS AGE REQUIREMENT IS/WAS ONLY IN QUEENSLAND

If you have seatbelts fitted, you have to comply with current laws and wear them,or, remove them before full registration.

NOTE: On Historic/Special Interest Vehicles in QLD ONLY the carrage of children UNDER 16 is PROHIBITED NO Exeptions

This rule is contary to the Aust Road Rules which came into force Nationwide in 2010 but was overruled by the Qld Minister, the Combined Council of Historic Motoring Clubs is trying to get this ruling repealed.

cheers

**Sideroad** · 14th August 2011, 07:05 PM

Uncle Ho,

I am confused regarding the rule on carrying children in a historic rego vehicle. Does this include vehicles that do have seat belts? What about my sidecar outfit? I was never told these rules by my car club when I did all the paperwork and read the rules.

Originally Posted by UncleHo

G'day Folks

In reply to the original question by "Sideroad",if you are registering your 1968 2a on full registration you do not need to have seatbelts fitted,as in Qld seatbelts were not compulsory to be fitted to sedans/wagons until 1969 and in Utilities/Commercials until 1/Jan/1972 E.G.(Falcon Ute regoed 31/12/71 NO Seatbelt required,Regoed 1/172 MUST be fitted with seatbelts)

As your Landrover is classed as a Commercial Vehicle (built on a Commercial Chassis) it did/does not require seatbelts

THIS AGE REQUIREMENT IS/WAS ONLY IN QUEENSLAND

If you have seatbelts fitted, you have to comply with current laws and wear them,or, remove them before full registration.

NOTE: On Historic/Special Interest Vehicles in QLD ONLY the carrage of children UNDER 16 is PROHIBITED NO Exeptions

This rule is contary to the Aust Road Rules which came into force Nationwide in 2010 but was overruled by the Qld Minister, the Combined Council of Historic Motoring Clubs is trying to get this ruling repealed.

cheers

**UncleHo** · 15th August 2011, 10:12 PM

G'day Sideroad

These new draconian Qld rules only came into being late in 2010, and are currently being challenged by the Qld Combined Council of historic motoring clubs, I will be following this closely, as it is at odds with the new 2010 National regulations

As I understand it,at the moment as it stands in Qld no child under the age 16 can ride in any Historic registered vehicle.

cheers

**101RRS** · 16th August 2011, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by UncleHo

As I understand it,at the moment as it stands in Qld no child under the age 16 can ride in any Historic registered vehicle.
cheers

Unless the appropriate restraints are fitted.

Thread: Seat belt rules for old cars?

Thread Tools

Series 2A in Western Australia

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions