Wearing a seatbelt is considered the most important factor in preventing serious or fatal occupant injuries in a vehicle crash. In order to remind occupants to buckle up, intelligent seat belt reminder (SBR) systems were developed in Sweden in the early 1990s. Since then, many studies have proven that SBR systems are highly effective in raising seat belt wearing rates. About 80% of unbelted drivers will buckle up when reminded to do so [1]. However, in the late 1990s, very few vehicle models offered SBRs.

In order to encourage vehicle manufacturers to install SBR systems, Euro NCAP introduced SBR bonus points into its rating scheme in 2002. In subsequent years, the number of Euro NCAP-tested vehicles that were equipped with SBR systems increased significantly. 2011 was the first year where all of the 51 cars tested were equipped with an SBR system on both front seats. In addition, 50% of the assessed vehicles also had a rear seat SBR system (buckle status monitoring only).

The Australia NCAP rating program adopted a similar approach to Euro NCAP, and implemented the same seat belt reminder protocol into its rating scheme. Other NCAP programs have also introduced their own SBR incentives:​ China NCAP (2006) and Japan NCAP (2011). ASEAN NCAP, Korea NCAP and Latin NCAP will follow with SBR incentives, starting with the 2013 ratings.

A historical review of the effectiveness of SBR incentives in the NCAP programs that have offered them for a couple of years (Europe, Australia, China) shows a clear trend:​ the number of vehicles equipped with SBR systems is increasing significantly. In the vehicles tested in 2012 by Australia NCAP, a driver SBR was installed in 98%, a front passenger SBR in 90% and a rear seat SBR in 43%. For China NCAP-assessed vehicles, the SBR installation rates until mid 2012 reached 96% for the driver and 84% for the front passenger seat. For the NCAP regions that have only recently introduced SBR incentives, or those planning on doing so in the near future, a similar trend can be expected.

Although NCAP programs do not test all new vehicle types on the market, an increasing number of SBRs in NCAP-tested vehicles also has an impact on the SBR equipment of all vehicles sold in a specific region. When looking at all new vehicles sold in Europe (EU25) in 2009, only about 15% of the cars did not have any SBR equipment at all. 21.5% only had a driver SBR, 46.5% had an SBR on both front seats and 17% had a rear seat SBR system, in addition to the front seats. The continuously high SBR equipment rates in Euro NCAP-tested vehicle types will obviously have a positive impact on the market penetration of SBR, contributing to the reduction in road traffic fatalities by increasing seat belt wearing rates.