On 13 March 2012, the Department of Infrastructure and Transport tabled an update of Australian Design Rule (ADR) 4. The update re-aligns ADR 4 with the latest version of the international standard – the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Regulation 16. The re-alignment means it is now a requirement that new passenger vehicles are fitted with a seatbelt reminder for the driver’s position, and that any folding seats must be fitted with seatbelts. The RIS finds that the safety benefits of installing a driver’s seat belt reminder, over the life of a vehicle, outweigh the installation costs. A Regulation Impact Statement was prepared by the Department of Infrastructure and Transport and was assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation.
