<P> In 2003, the Transportation Research Board Committee, chaired by two psychologists, reported that ESBRs could save an additional 1,000 lives a year . Research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that Ford's ESBR, which provides an intermittent chime for up to five minutes if the driver is unbelted, sounding for 6 seconds then pausing for 30, increased seat belt use by 5 percentage points . Farmer and Wells found that driver fatality rates were 6% lower for vehicles with ESBR compared with otherwise - identical vehicles without . </P> <P> In 2001, Congress directed NHSTA to study the benefits of technology meant to increase the use of seat belts . NHSTA found that seat belt usage had increased to 73% since the initial introduction of the SBR system . In 2002, Ford demonstrated that seat belts were used more in Fords with seat belt reminders than in those without: 76% and 71% respectively . In 2007, Honda conducted a similar study and found that 90% of people who drove Hondas with seat belt reminders used a seat belt, while 84% of people who drove Hondas without seat belt reminders used a seat belt . </P> <P> Observational studies of car crash morbidity and mortality, experiments using both crash test dummies and human cadavers indicate that wearing seat belts greatly reduces the risk of death and injury in the majority of car crashes . </P> <P> This has led many countries to adopt mandatory seat belt wearing laws . It is generally accepted that, in comparing like - for - like accidents, a vehicle occupant not wearing a properly fitted seat belt has a significantly and substantially higher chance of death and serious injury . One large observation studying using US data showed that the odds ratio of crash death is 0.46 with a three - point belt, when compared with no belt . In another study that examined injuries presenting to the ER pre - and post-seat belt law introduction, it was found that 40% more escaped injury and 35% more escaped mild and moderate injuries . </P>

When did 3 point seat belts become standard