Only half of all truck drivers use the safety belt

The safety belt doubles the chances of survival in a serious road accident. Nonetheless, half of all truck drivers choose not to use their safety belts.

The chances of surviving a serious road accident are doubled if the driver or passenger uses a safety belt. This can be seen, for instance, in the most recent WHO report entitled Global Status Report on Road Safety 2013.

The report emphasises increased belt usage as one of the most crucial issues for improving traffic safety. Today there is legislation requiring safety belt usage in 111 countries the world over.

As of 2006 compulsory belt use has been required in the EU for both cars and trucks.

A recent survey conducted by Sweden’s NTF road safety organisation based on observations of more than 700 truck drivers and interviews with more than 200 of them between 2011 and 2013 confirms this picture. Most said they used safety belts when driving a car, but only half did so behind the wheel of their truck. Among the reasons given were that it is difficult, inconvenient or time-consuming to put on and take off the belt.