Wearing a rear seat belt will be compulsory by the end of the year, Transport Minister Censu Galea said yesterday.

The decision was taken at a recent cabinet meeting and the transport authorities are currently discussing enforcement measures.

Initially, it will be mandatory for children to use seat belts while parents of toddlers will be encouraged to install a child seat.

Failure to wear a front seat belt currently earns a fine of Lm5.

Speaking to The Times, Mr Galea said the introduction of mandatory seat belts in 1996 had been a success.

Last June, the European Commission adopted a new draft directive on the compulsory fitting of seat belts in new vehicles of all types placed on the market from July, 2004.

But the minister said the initiative in Malta was taken to increase safety on the roads and not just to abide by EU standards. Two to three deaths from road accidents last year were caused because back seat passengers were not strapped in, Mr Galea said.

Studies in the EU have shown that rear seats are almost as dangerous as front seats for passengers not using safety belts. Studies have also shown that rear seat passengers not wearing safety belts increase the risk of injuries to front seat passengers. Moreover, the use of seat belts in motor vehicles reduces the risk of serious and fatal injury by half.

The measure forms part of the European Road Safety Action Programme designed to halve the number of road deaths by 2010. A number of measures were introduced in Malta over the years to improve road safety, such as the mandatory use of crash helmets by bikers and the introduction of roadworthiness tests.

"We all realised seat belts were a necessity and we sincerely believe they have saved lives. Initially, there was a wave of protests but everybody now acknowledges it was a good move," Mr Galea said.

"If we were to observe speed laws the way we observe seat belt legislation, the roads would be much safer," he said.