Overview

On 1 January 1972, Australia became the first country worldwide to legislate for compulsory seatbelt wearing in front and back seats.

As car ownership and use increased in Australia through the middle decades of the 20th century, so too did the road toll. In 1970, Australia had reached its greatest road toll to date, with 3,798 fatalities. In the early 1960s, it is estimated that only 5 per cent of cars in Australia had seatbelts fitted.

A large study undertaken in the USA by Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory published in early 1960 showed that seatbelts, voluntarily fitted by some motorists, reduced “‘major–fatal’ grade” injuries by 35 per cent. A new Australian federal select committee investigating road safety cited this report later that year, recommending the car industry install approved “Australian standard” seatbelts in all motor vehicles and that the public be educated on the benefits of wearing them. Throughout the 1960s, road-safety campaigns made the case for behavioural change.

Road-user behaviour is among state and territory responsibilities, and Victoria led the way in introducing legislation. Politicians of all persuasions did not necessarily support legislation, in what was essentially a balancing act between public good and individual rights, and there was some public apathy and pockets of resistance. But by late 1970 the ground was shifting in Victoria, following research and lobbying by the medical sector’s Road Trauma Committee, an intensive newspaper campaign and recommendations from a Victorian joint parliamentary committee. The latter suggested a two-year transition period when it tabled its report in September 1969, but the Victorian government introduced the first state legislation mandating seatbelts just a little over 12 months later. New South Wales introduced its legislation on 1 October 1971, and despite ambivalence in other states and territories, by 1 January 1972 legislation was introduced nationwide.

Today, figures indicate that this road-safety measure reduces the risk of fatality and serious injury by around 50 per cent.

Technical specifications

Issue date
25 January 2022
Issue withdrawal date
31 July 2022
Denomination
$1.10 x 1
Stamp design
Nigel Buchannan
Product design
Jo Muré, Australia Post Design Studio
Paper: gummed
Tullis Russell Red Phos.
Printer
EGO
Printing process
Offset lithography
Stamp size (mm)
26 x 37.5
Sheetlet size (mm)
101 x 151
Perforations
14.6 x 13.86
Sheet layout
Sheetlet of 10
FDI Postmark
Melbourne VIC 3000
FDI withdrawal date
23 February 2022

Stamp in this issue

$1.10 Buckle Up! 50 Years

The stamp design takes a symbolic and typographic approach to the introduction of compulsory seatbelt wearing, using a bold, graphic style that references poster art.

Shop our stamp collectables

Single stamp:

Single Buckle Up! 50 Years Gummed Stamp

The single Buckle Up! 50 Years $1.10 gummed stamp is designed by Nigel Buchanan.

Sheetlet pack:

Buckle Up! 50 Years Sheetlet Pack

The Buckle Up! 50 Years sheetlet pack contains the sheetlet of 10 x $1.10 stamps from the stamp issue presented in high quality folder.

Sheetlet of 10:

Sheetlet of 10x Buckle Up! 50 Years Stamps

This gummed sheetlet contains 10 x $1.10 stamps from the Buckle Up! 50 Years stamp issue.

Maxicard:

Buckle Up! 50 Years Maxicard

The Buckle Up! 50 Years maxicard is a prepaid postcard with the single stamp from the stamp issue affixed and postmarked on the view side.

Additional collectables:

  • Roll of 100x Buckle Up! 50 Years Stamps
  • Single Buckle Up! 50 Years Self-Adhesive Stamp
  • Pictorial Envelope for the Buckle Up! 50 Years Stamp Issue
  • First Day Buckle Up! 50 Years Gummed Stamp Cover
  • First Day Buckle Up! 50 Years Self-Adhesive Stamp Cover

This content was produced at the time of the stamp issue release date and will not be updated.