Belt Up Soldier - That's An Order!

It looks like the latest Euro NCAP crash test, but it's actually part of a radical safety shake-up in Britain's Armed Forces. Road accidents killed more military personnel than anything else last year - and now the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is trying to do something about it. But Auto Express has discovered it faces a tough battle.

Auto Express Car Reviews

13th October 2004

The MoD has taken the step of smashing an Army Land Rover into a concrete block at 30mph to demonstrate what happens to squaddies who don't wear seatbelts. A video of the crash has been distributed to road safety officers throughout the forces. It graphically shows four dummies in fatigues hitting the roll bar, windscreen, bulkheads and each other before coming to rest in a heap. The front end of the ageing 4x4 is totally destroyed.

In 2003, 49 recruits died in vehicle accidents - nearly a third of all Army fatalities. But the shock tactics won't change deep-rooted attitudes unless there are regular reminders, says one retired solder. Martin Dilworth, an ex-para who runs Drop Zone combat simulation exercises in Caterham, Surrey, told us: "Road safety was never part of the culture. The last thing you worry about in a combat zone is putting on a seatbelt.

"Back at base, you didn't bother because you'd be called names or your kit made it impractical. Besides, some vehicles didn't have doors, let alone seatbelts."