Comforting phenomena: if they are not always so numerous to state
that they "buckle" systematically their seat belt, they are nevertheless
more and more rare to be opposed. On main roads, the average wearing score for
EU member states is of 77%, and it is of 85% on motorways. It is true that,
in urban areas, it reaches a maximum of 64%.
But clear improvements have been observed. Mainly with Spanish
and Portuguese, still very reticent in 1991 : taken into force in 1992 and 1993
respectively, the mandatory wearing of front and rear seat belts in urban areas
has changed the figures from 6% to 51% for Spain and to 75% for Portugal.
A nice progression !
Only black spot in this scene, but important: Greece and Italy
are resisting. Their nationals are only 15 to 16% to wear seat belt in town,
33 to 35% on main roads and 58% on motorways.
One can only insists on the fact that increasing seat belt wearing in all European countries may constitute a mean both simple and reliable to improve road safety.