<P> Seat belt legislation requires the fitting of seat belts to motor vehicles and the wearing of seat belts by motor vehicle occupants to be mandatory . Laws requiring the fitting of seat belts to cars have in some cases been followed by laws mandating their use, with the effect that thousands of deaths on the road have been prevented . Different laws apply in different countries to the wearing of seat belts . </P> <P> In Australia, after the introduction of mandatory front outboard mounting points in 1964, the use of seat belts by all vehicle passengers was made compulsory in the states of Victoria and South Australia in 1970 and 1971, respectively . By 1973, the use of fitted seat belts by vehicle occupants was made compulsory for the rest of Australia and some other countries during the 1970s and 1980s . The subsequent dramatic decline in road deaths is generally because of seat belt laws and subsequent road safety campaigns . Seat belts are not required for bus occupants, reversing drivers, and those driving some slow moving vehicles . The laws for these differ depending on the state or territory with jurisdiction . </P> <P> All provinces in Canada have primary enforcement seat belt laws . In 1976, Ontario was the first province to pass a law which required vehicle occupants to wear seat belts . </P>

When did seat belts become law in australia