News

Seatbelt pioneer honoured

Media Release, Friday 11 March 2005

Compulsory seatbelt advocate and University of Melbourne academic, Peter Joubert, will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering tomorrow in recognition of his contribution to engineering research.

Professor Joubert was a key player in the process which led to the world’s first change in seatbelt legislation in the seventies.

He claims it was the respect and reputation of the University of Melbourne which first prompted the Standing Committee for Road Safety to seek out expert opinion on compulsory seatbelts, and then push for an inquiry.

Professor Joubert realised the importance of wearing a seatbelt when a Tiger Moth he was piloting during World War II flipped while he was attempting to land in New Guinea. He says he was left suspended upside down under the aircraft with his seatbelt preventing him from the serious injury.

Professor Joubert began his campaign for seatbelt reform in 1961 when he attended a meeting held by the local branch of the Liberal Party. It was at this meeting that he first voiced his proposal but it took nine years and many rejections to change the legislation. In 1970 Victoria became the first state in the world to introduce the law.

VicRoads have claimed that this was one of the measures which “saw Victoria's road toll fall from more than 1000 fatalities per annum in 1970 to approximately 400 per annum since the early 1990's.

The legislation subsequently spread to other Australian states and has been adopted in most countries around the world.

Professor Joubert’s citation describes him as a person distinguished by an eminent academic career who has made many valuable contributions to research conducted in fluid mechanics and is also well known for his yacht designs.

Professor Joubert continues his research at the University of Melbourne as an Emeritus Professor despite having retired in 1989.

The degree ceremony will commence at 10:30am tomorrow, Saturday 12 March, in Wilson Hall at the University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus.