Safety of the rear seat passenger: the importance of a new legislation

Abstract

The enforcement of law for the front seat occupants to wear seat belts and timely deployment of air bags during crashes has unquestionably reduced front seat occupant morbidity and fatality. However, law does not impose any regulation for the rear seat passengers to wear seat belts in Sri Lanka. As a result an increased incidence of rear seat passenger fatality in high speed crashes is observed in forensic practice. This communication presents four unrestrained rear seat passenger fatalities, in two similar crashes. Imposing of regulations in Sri Lanka to wear seatbelts for rear passengers is strongly recommended as it minimizes fatalities/injuries, not only in rear seat passengers but in all the occupants of a vehicle.