No seat belt reminders in 46% of new vehicles

ALMOST half of all new vehicles on Irish roads are not equipped with potentially life-saving seat belt reminders, according to a study to be published today.

Only 54% of cars, vans and lorries sold here last year contained the device, which road safety experts say can drastically increase seat belt wearing rates.

It ranks Ireland as 17th out of 25 European countries in the use of seat belt reminders in vehicles.