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Why Seatbelts Matter
Seatbelts (also known as safety belts) are one of the simplest and most effective tools for saving lives on New Zealand roads. They protect you in a crash or when a vehicle stops suddenly. Without a seatbelt:

- Front seat occupants can be thrown through the windscreen and onto the road.
- Back seat passengers can collide with the front seats, front passengers, or even the roof.
- Unrestrained occupants can become projectiles, increasing the risk of injury or death for everyone in the vehicle.

Wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of being killed or seriously injured in a road crash by about 40%. According to Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, if everyone consistently wore their seatbelts, an estimated 25 lives could be saved across New Zealand each year.

Legal Requirements and Best Practice
- All modern vehicles in New Zealand must be fitted with seatbelts in both front and rear seats.
- It is a legal requirement to wear a seatbelt in any seat where one is fitted.
- Children must be restrained in an approved child restraint appropriate for their age and size.
- A lap-sash seatbelt (over the shoulder and across the lap) provides significantly better protection than a lap-only belt and should be used wherever available.

Best Practice Tips from Waka Kotahi:
- Always check that your seatbelt is not twisted and sits snugly across your shoulder and hips.
- Pregnant women should wear the lap portion of the belt under the belly and across the hips, not over the stomach.
- Never place the shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back.
- Ensure children are in the right restraint for their age, height, and weight. Booster seats are recommended until at least 148cm tall.

Wairarapa Region Seatbelt Usage Trends (2021–2025)
While national seatbelt wearing rates remain high, the Wairarapa region (Masterton, Carterton, and South Wairarapa Districts) continues to face challenges with non-compliance, particularly in rural areas.

Key Statistics:
- Between 2021 and 2023, 21% of vehicle occupant fatalities in the Wairarapa involved individuals not wearing seatbelts.
- In Masterton District, police enforcement data from 2023 recorded over 180 seatbelt infringement notices, showing ongoing issues with compliance.
- Carterton and South Wairarapa districts reported a combined seatbelt non-use rate of approximately 15% in rural crash investigations during 2022.
- Young males aged 16–29 remain the group most at risk for not wearing seatbelts in the Wairarapa region.

Trends and Enforcement (2024–2025 Projections):
- Waka Kotahi and local councils are increasing road safety campaigns targeting rural drivers and high-risk groups.
- Police checkpoints and mobile road safety units are being used more frequently in the region to enforce seatbelt laws.
- Community-based education programs in schools and workplaces are being expanded in Masterton and surrounding towns to promote consistent seatbelt use.

Seatbelts are a critical component of vehicle safety. In the Wairarapa region and across New Zealand, improving seatbelt use—especially in rural areas and among young drivers—can significantly reduce road trauma. Whether you're driving around town or on rural roads, always buckle up. It could save your life or the life of someone you love.

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Useful Links:
- [Seatbelt Factsheet – Waka Kotahi] https://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/factsheets/01/
- [Rightcar Safety Features – Waka Kotahi] https://rightcar.govt.nz
- [Research on Seat Belts – NZ Automobile Association (AA)] https://www.aa.co.nz/about/newsroom/media-releases/seatbelt-research/

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