15 July 2026 50 years of seat belt mandate: Seat belt remains the number one lifesaver Minister for Mobility Hanke: "The seat belt saves lives – every day"

50 years ago, the seat belt mandate was introduced in Austria. Initially implemented in 1976 without sanctions, it was consistently developed further in the subsequent years: Since 1990, seat belts have been mandatory for all seats in passenger cars, and since 1994, there is also an obligation to secure children with suitable child restraint systems.

The seat belt remains one of the simplest and most effective measures to prevent severe injuries or fatalities in traffic accidents to this day. The prerequisite is that the belt is correctly fastened and sits optimally. 

Minister for Mobility Peter Hanke emphasises the importance of the seat belt for road safety: "The seat belt saves lives – every day. For 50 years, the seat belt mandate has made a crucial contribution to greater safety on Austria's roads. Every action to fasten the belt can make the decisive difference in an emergency. Especially with children, it's important: Check if the belt fits correctly. Only a correctly fastened seat belt can fully provide its protective effect." 

Austria's Road Safety Strategy 2021–2030 also focuses on further increasing the seat belt usage rate. Using defined safety indicators, it is regularly checked how the proportion of passengers developed who correctly use seat belts or child restraint systems. The aim is to further increase the seat belt usage rate on all seats and sustainably reduce the number of passengers who are seriously injured or killed because they were not wearing a seat belt.

Especially when children are already able to fasten the seat belt themselves, adults should check again before starting the journey whether the belt runs correctly and fits snugly on the body. This ensures that the seat belt can provide optimal protection in an emergency.