Monday 31st January 1983
A new law came into force at midnight in Britain making it compulsory for drivers and front seat passengers to wear seatbelts. According to the Department of Transport 30,000 people a year were being killed or seriously injured in road accidents. It was hoped the compulsory wearing of front seatbelts would save 1,000 lives a year. Police took a softly softly approach to start with, but drivers were eventually fined £50 for not wearing their seatbelts.
