Seat belt laws

I was looking at Kirks seat belts for sale and it sparked the question do i have to have seatbelts in the front of my car? So i guess the real question is what year did Ford start putting seatbelts in the front seats of cars?
Thanks

 

I may be screwed up, but as I recall, Ford installed seatbelts z9or maybe they were offered as accessories, can't recall 'zactly) in 1956 along with some other safety items, like padded dashes, etc. They didn't sell well, so they didn't offer them again until the government forced everybody to do so - mid-60's ??

 

Think about 1962, might be wrong. Here in Washington, you don't need them if they wer'nt original equipment. But if you install them, you have to use them!!!!!!........OLDBEET

 

I know for sure they were an option on my '60... most states have some form of that "if it has em, wear em" law....

 

I know they were optional in 1960. My dad opted for seat belts in the front only. As far as the law, I have been told that if your car didn't come with seat belts, then you do not have to install and wear them. But, if you have seat belts in you car (even if they weren't there when the car was new) you have to wear them.

Mike

 

here in missouri, they are required in vehicals built after 1965...

 

Ford (and Chrysler) offered them in 1956 as options on certain models. Ford advertised them. In 1962, most US manufacturers provided seat belt anchors outboard for front seats. In 1964, most US manufacturers provided lap belts for front seat positions.

So prior to 1964, I guess it would be your choice. I currently don't have them in my 57 Olds, but have considered putting in a 3 point system in for the front buckets only. My 34 has lap belts front and rear (3 in rear). None are used regularly. When I got the 57 registered as an antique they said I didn't need them, however had it been registered as a "collector" or cl***ic" the DMV would prefer if they were installed. Guess it comes down to how much you value your life as well as your p***engers. Yeah, I know I flunked that one.

 

They were an option in my 60 f-100. The last time I got pulled over, the young police officer tried to write me up for not wearing my seat belts. I kindly explained to him that they were not in the vehicle from the factory to which he thought I was a liar. Long story short is he spent twenty minutes on the radio finding out I was correct. He was not happy.

 

Michigan doesn't require seatbelts in a motor vehical manufactured before January 1, 1965

 

Yeah, well they sure weren't standard in my '31 A, but then no one was driving 65 in 30 MPH zones then or running red lights. So one of the very first things I put in was a set of good belts, bolted to the frame. (Yeah, I know a Model A is likely toast in an accident). Try Andover Restraints for some cl***ic belts at a good price. The bottom line, standard equipment or not, is why wouldn't youuse them??

 

Being an old geezer, I can say that you are absolutely correct: '62 for anchors, '64 for lap belts, '69 for the shoulder belt that was tucked up against the headliner and could be unfastened and latched to the seat belt. Your '57 Olds and my '53 Mopar are about the same: using the invisible "luck' belts

 

Stude Dude is correct, Federal law required anchors in '62, laps in '64, and shoulder belts in '69. Trucks were exempt, but I installed them in my '63 Chevy after finding myself laying across the seat after hitting a pothole in a curve and flying into oncoming traffic. I think I was lucky I couldn't use the brake pedal.

Nash is considered the first manufacturer to install, and offered laps belts in their '50 Rambler line, but discontinued when a "public" campaign questioned their safety. My large '50 Nash has a p***enger-only reclining seat option with a seat belt. Seat belts became options in mid-'50s. Volvo introduced shoulder belts in '59. Great vintage belts can also be found in airplane catalogs.

I personaly like seat belts, as I have been known to crash a few cars...

 

i heard somewhere that calif has a new law ,,,,,,all cars no matter what year,, i hope im wrong did not look into it,,,, i know im installin them in my 64 goat so i stay behind the wheel...

 

Don't know about the others, but Ford offered them as an option in 56 for sure, maybe 55. Didn't sell well at all.

 

And you would like to think that "permed" chatterbox listening to her Ipod between converstations w/Missy on her cell, actually sees you, in her blind spot? This calls for a Deist race harness! at least a roll cage!
We would not be pleased to find a HAMB-er Found On Road Dead

 

But if you put them in you better use them or they will give you a ticket if your stopped.
Dave

 

I had them in a 56 2dr post car. They were included in the "Safety Option Package" which also came with a padded dash.

BB

 

I think seatbelts became mandatory in the mid-sixties. For trucks it was about 1972.

As some have already said, if it didn't have seatbelts originally, you probably are not required to have them.

 

The kid's '63 Econo didn't come with them originally (they were optional). I could drive it without belts, but he couldn't legally ride in it or drive unless I added them. No big deal adding them so he could drive it, but it was kinda cool driving without them (like the "old days"). Good thing I'm being protected from myself....

 

I'd put some in where you can tuck them out of sight, and use them. Windsheilds taste bad, I know first hand...

 

What would your mom say if you asked her?

I put seat belts in all of mine, even the 29 A Sedan

 

Seat belts. Good idea. Bolting them to the frame. Bad Idea. Seat belts should be attached to the body not the frame. If the body comes loose from the frame in a accident and you are attached to the frame with a belt you are going to be in some discomfort to say the least.

 

Ooh, I mis-spoke. You have a good point. Actually, mine are bolted to the floor and in one or two spots to a piece of angle iron bolted to the frame. I expect the 1/4" bolts will separate if the ride gets wild.

Try here for nice 60's style aircraft buckle belts.

http://www.andoauto.com/replacement.htm

 

I'm gonna go along with 62,,,,,my dads new galaxie had them. HRP

 

the chief of police in chandler had a accident and was not wearing a seat belt. his insurance company denied part of the claim in that his neglignece contirbuted to some of the injury. i could care less if a adult choses not wear a seat belt but it drives me crazey when i see a child not buckled in.

 

http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/567.cfm

 

I think they were optional on Fords in '61 because I remember helping my dad install some seatbelts in his '61 Ford in about '69, but my old '61 T-Bird had them from the factory. I had a '65 Chevy pickup that never had any seat belts and didn't even have holes for them, so trucks maybe got belts later.

It's so simple to install them and wear them though, so even if your car never had 'em, you might as well install them and wear them. I think some guys think they're not going to look cool wearing seat belts, but that's kind of a lame reason not to wear them -- especially if someone's going to be taking their wife or kids along for a ride. I think those old fashioned belts with the chrome flip top levers blend right in with an old car.

I just ordered some chrome flip top lap/shoulder combo belts for my current project. They were only about $36 a set. From the picture, they look like most of the old belts I remembered in cars from the early '60s.

 

in mississippi seatbelts are required for vehicles 65 or older ..

 

I've investigated accidents and handled injury claims since 1973. There is no doubt that in MOST accidents you are much better off staying restrained in the car. I posted a year or two ago about coming up on a fresh accident and trying to get a full size Chev PU off of a girl pinned face down under the truck. She was sitting in the middle of the front seat between her fiance & his friend, both wearing seat belts, she was not, they were not injured, she was dead.
I have seat belts in everything, including my roadster, all bolted to the body, not the frame. Reasoning on the roadster is that I don't want to eat a windshield, I'm ugly enough to start with. If it rolls over I'm screwed anyway.

 

With todays traffic and peoples bad driving habits, you would be wise to install 3 point belts. Also old style door latches were not safe. My old Studebaker the doors would come open when you hit a pothole.

Jim H