It has been mandatory in France since 1979: seat belts. The main equipment of our cars, it was not subject to any special rules before. That is why we looked indifferently at equipping vehicles with it. Belts only in the first row or five seats, lap or chest, only for children… At that time, everyone had the right to decide what he thought was best for his safety and the safety of the residents….

A relatively old invention

But where does it come from and who invented it? In general, it is Swedish manufacturer Volvo that we are to blame for most of it active security measures the most common Special Swedish manufacturer series (SAAB died out in 2011) has always stood out during its run almost 100 years of existence for his many innovations that made its models safer and more reliable. We owe him back in 1944 the invention of the laminated windshield and the central security camera. Will come later headrest (1968) and booster seat (1978). And the belt? Volvo democratized it from 1959 with its model PV 544. It was the first three-point seat belt. The brand went further in innovation, patenting ten years later winder, allowing it to automatically climb. Since then it has stood out with several others passive safety initiatives.

A few exceptions to the rule

However, in some cases, the law allows not using seat belts:

• According to medical indications if your morphology is clearly unsuitable for the use of a seat belt or for any other reason (including cardiac), if you have a medical exemption certificate issued by an authorized doctor and stating its validity period.
• For professional reasons if you are in one of the following situations:
  • Regular taxi driver
  • The driver or passenger of a public utility vehicle with priority or an ambulance while responding to an emergency
  • A driver or passenger of a public vehicle is forced to stop frequently in populated areas due to service requirements
  • A driver or passenger of a vehicle that makes door-to-door deliveries in populated areas
• If you are traveling in an old car (vintage or vintage) without original seat belt. Attention, even in this case, attachment of children under the age of three is mandatory (decree 2006-1496). Then installing a seat belt or a child seat is mandatory.

Source: service-public.fr