Make it click: Kiwis safety conscious with seatbelts

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New Zealanders are safety conscious when it comes to seatbelts, a recent survey shows.

A significant increase in front seat safety belt wearing rates over the last 10 years has seen a rise from 94 per cent to 97 per cent nationwide, the Ministry of Transport said.

Some regions were better than other, though - Auckland, Gisborne, Manawatu and Wellington showed an increase in safety belt usage, while rates had fallen in Waikato, Taranaki and the West Coast.

The increase in safety belt wearing was mirrored by a decrease in fatalities, the ministry said.

The ministry's Land Transport Safety manager Leo Mortimer said women edged out men in compliance.

The number reached 97 per cent for male drivers and 94 per cent of male front seat passengers observed wearing safety belts, compared to 98 per cent of women drivers and passengers.

"It is a concern ? more than one in twenty male passengers are not wearing safety belts," Mr Mortimer said.

"Wearing a safety belt is a road safety basic, and should be second nature to anyone travelling in a vehicle.

"A responsible driver should ensure they and their passengers are wearing their safety belts," he said.

"Not only is it a legal requirement for drivers and passengers to be restrained, but it may save their lives."

About 20 lives a year could be saved if safety belts were always worn, Mr Mortimer said.

"It is very simple. Make sure that at the start of any journey, everyone in the vehicle is safely buckled up."