Information
Wearing a Seat Belt Saves Lives
Seat belt wearing saves over 2,000 lives every year. Everyone knows they should wear a seat belt in the front seat, but many people still don't realise how dangerous it is not to wear a seat belt in the back.
In a crash at 30mph, if you are unrestrained, you will hit the front seat, and anyone in it, with a force of between 30 and 60 times your own body weight.
This could result in death or serious injury to you and people sitting in the front seat.
Seat Belts and the Law
In 1983, front seat belt wearing regulations for drivers and passengers (both adult and children) came into force.
In 1989, wearing rear seat belts became compulsory for children under 14.
In 1991, when it became compulsory for adults to wear seat belts in the back of a car, there was an immediate increase from 10 per cent to 40 per cent in observed rear seat belt wearing.
For your own and others’ safety, the law requires you to use a seat belt in all motor vehicles if one is fitted and for children up to 135cms in height to use a child restraint (see Child Safety Restraints Page)
The law is summarised in the table below.
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Front seat
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Rear seat
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Who is responsible
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Driver
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Seat belt must be worn if fitted
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Driver
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Child under 3 years of age
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Correct child restraint must be used
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Correct child restraint must be used. If one is not available in a taxi, may travel unrestrained
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Driver
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Child from 3rd birthday up to 135cms in height (approx 4'5") (or 12th birthday, whichever they reach first)
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Correct child restraint must be used
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Correct child restraint must be used where seat belts fitted. Must use adult belt in rear seat if correct child restraint not available:
- in a taxi; or - for a short distance in an unexpected necessity; or - if two occupied child restraints prevent fitting of a third |
Driver
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Child 12 or 13, or over 135cms (approx 4ft 5ins) in height
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Adult seat belt must be worn if available
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Adult seat belt must be worn if available
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Driver
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Adult passengers
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Seat belt must be worn if available
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Seat belt must be worn if available
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Passenger
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What are the seat belt wearing rules in mini-buses, buses and coaches?
Seat belt wearing is already compulsory in minibuses under 2.54 tonnes unladen weight. If available, an appropriate child seat must be used in these vehicles but there is no obligation on anyone to provide them. Note the new obligation to notify passengers that seat belt wearing is compulsory - see below.
Seated passengers aged 14 years and above must use seat belts where they are fitted in all buses and coaches. Children up to 13 years should use a child car seat if one is available and suitable. If there is no suitable child car seat they should use the belt provided. The operator is not required to provide a suitable child seat.
Vehicle operators must notify passengers of the legal requirement to use seat belts. The regulations require notification by any of:
- An official announcement, or an audio-visual presentation, made when the passenger joins the bus or within a reasonable time of his doing so;
- A sign prominently displayed at each passenger seat equipped with a seat belt.
- An "official announcement" means one by the driver, by a conductor or courier or by a group leader of any passengers on the vehicle.
- A sign that takes the form of a pictorial symbol must be in the agreed form depicting a white figure on a blue background - see link to letter below for the design.
For more detail on the rules for seat belt wearing in mini-buses, buses and coaches see the Department for Transport's letter of 11 August 2006 to operators.
Go to the DfT's Think! website for more information on Seat Belts and other road rafety issues.
