Global NCAP contributes to UNRSF Experts Connect session on seat belts
Global NCAP is proud to have contributed to the UN Road Safety Fund’s Experts Connect session which brought attention to one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to save lives on the road: seat belts.
Held on 30 March, the session convened representatives from nine Member States alongside experts from UN agencies, international organisations, the private sector and civil society.
Discussions combined an expert evidence-sharing panel, global good practices and priorities to strengthen action ahead of the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Road Safety this July.
From evidence to action
Despite overwhelming evidence of effectiveness, seat belt use remains inconsistent worldwide.
Only 63 countries have national data on seat belt use, with many low and middle-income countries lacking systematic reporting. While 170 countries have mandatory seat belt laws, just 117 meet WHO best practice standards and only 12 report compliance rates above 80% for all occupants.
Encouragingly, the session highlighted that regulation and technology are beginning to align and stressed the need for further progress. Seat belt reminders will become mandatory for front seats in the EU from 2026 and rear seats from 2027, with the US, China and other markets to follow. Technology itself should move forward together, the panel emphasised, with other vehicle safety systems like airbags found to further amplify the effectiveness of seat belts.
However, one somber takeaway is that not everyone is protected equally by current seat belt standards. Women face statistically higher risk in frontal crashes, whilst research is ongoing for the development of more inclusive standards to cover diverse body types, pregnant women and varied seating configurations.
Global NCAP’s contribution
Global NCAP, represented by Jessica Truong, emphasised that seat belts remain the single most effective vehicle safety technology, reducing the risk of death by up to 60% and serious injury by up to 75%.
Two priority challenges were highlighted: availability and usage.
In many markets, particularly in low and middle-income countries, seat belt provision is still not mandated. NCAPs are helping close this gap by incentivising manufacturers to include seat belts even in the absence of regulation. In Southeast Asia, for example, the influence of ASEAN NCAP has driven widespread seat belt availability in the majority of cars for sale in the market despite uneven regulatory requirements.
Usage remains a persistent challenge, with seat belt wearing rates often low in low and middle-income countries. Technologies such as seat belt reminders, already embedded in NCAP rating systems, are proving effective in boosting compliance.
Necessary further action was also flagged. This includes improved rear-seat belt safety performance, wider use of seat belt interlocks, and more inclusive designs that better protect diverse occupants, including pregnant women. Expanding seat belt use in buses and trucks was also highlighted as a priority.
Global best practices
Country case studies demonstrated that progress is achievable with sustained effort and policy.
France has showcased the impact of long-term commitment, combining legislation, enforcement, public education and vehicle safety standards over decades. The nation’s comprehensive approach has reduced annual road deaths from over 18,000 in the 1970s to fewer than 4,000 today.
Brazil has highlighted the effectiveness of targeted enforcement. In the state of Pará, a UNRSF-funded initiative combined visible seat belt policing with integrated seat belt checks during drink-driving operations. Rear-seat non-compliance dropped from around 60% to between 10% and 20% by the end of the project, with the model now being considered for wider replication across Brazil.
Other countries spotlighted for good practices included Jordan, Austria, Tunisia, Spain, South Africa, Moldova and the US.
A critical moment for action
With seatbelts proven to be one of the most effective life saving vehicle measures, the session reinforced both the scale of progress made and the urgency for what’s next.
As preparations build for the July 2026 High-Level Meeting, the message from the UNRSF session was clear: proven solutions exist but stronger implementation, better data and closer alignment between policy, enforcement and vehicle technology are essential to save lives at scale.
