The Costa Rican parliament has voted to introduce a new seat belt law to improve road safety in the country.
The Costa Rican government and road safety campaigners, supported by the FIA Foundation, have promoted the re-introduction of a seat belt law with a major awareness campaign. Since 1997, when a previous seat belt law was ruled to be inconstitutional, adults have not been required to belt up in the car. Opponents of the new law from the country's Libertarian Movement have consulted the Constitutional Court on compulsary seat belt use, arguing that it violated a person's privacy and freedom of choice and a ruling is awaited. Meanwhile the FIA Foundation has submitted a letter to the Costa Rican government supporting the new law and stressing the vital safety role played by seat belts.
Download letter supporting the new law (PDF) >