The Arrive Alive website received an interesting email with regards to the wearing of seat belts. The email reads:
“Is there a need for a passenger to wear seat belt when the vehicle is parked on the side of the road and without a driver on the driver’s seat?
When is it a violation of law when the seat belts are not buckled up?
When the car is stationary or when it is in motion?”
This was referred to the experts on the Ask the Experts section and a response received. The response reads:
“A seat belt must be worn when the vehicle is operated on a public road. A stationery or parked vehicle is not under operation.
The following sub regulations from regulation 213 specify when a seatbelt should be worn:-
(4) No adult shall occupy a seat in a motor vehicle operated on a public road which is fitted with a seatbelt unless such person wears such seatbelt: Provided that the provisions of this regulation do not apply while reversing or moving in or out of a parking bay or area.
(5) No adult shall occupy a seat on a row of seats in a motor vehicle opera-ted on a public road which is not fitted with a seatbelt, unless all other seats on such row which are fitted with seatbelts, are already occupied.
Therefore whenever a vehicle is operated the seatbelt (when available) should always be worn, except when the driver is reversing or moving out of a parking bay or area.
There are other legal requirements that stipulate which vehicles should always have seatbelts.
The driver shall ensure that a child uses a child restraint when available or uses the seatbelt on an unoccupied seat when available.”
We would like to urge all readers to visit the Arrive Alive Road Safety website and view “Child Restraints and Road Safety”
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