Resurfaced 1983 footage shows people's reactions to seatbelts becoming compulsory when driving
Published on Sep 03, 2025 at 12:15 PM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Sep 03, 2025 at 8:46 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Claire Reid
Archival footage from the BBC shows how British motorists reacted back in 1983, when seatbelts became compulsory.
While it may seem like a very basic way to keep yourself safe when behind the wheel, wearing seatbelts wasn’t enshrined into UK law until January 31, 1983.
On that day, a reporter from the BBC took to the streets to ask motorists what they thought about the new law.
And it makes for a pretty interesting watch, with some folks admitting to never wearing one before – check it out in the clip above.
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With a background in both local and national press in the UK, Claire moved to New Zealand before joining the editorial team at Supercar Blondie in May 2024. As a Senior Content Writer working on New Zealand Standard Time (NZST), Claire was the first writer on the team to make the site’s output a slick 24/7 operation covering the latest in automotive news.
