Seat belts and child restraints protect people by holding them in their seats when there is a crash or when the vehicle stops suddenly. If you don’t wear a seat belt and you’re involved in a crash, you could be thrown out of your vehicle. Always remember to fasten your seat belt before you drive off.
Except when reversing, the driver and all passengers must wear seat belts if these are fitted to the vehicle.
A passenger may not occupy a seat without a seat belt if there is a vacant seat with a seat belt fitted. If seat belts have been removed, the vehicle may not be used on public roads.
Children must also be belted-in, using approved child restraints. If there is no seat belt on the front seat, children up to the age of 14 must sit on the back seat.
As the driver you must ensure passengers are using seat belt. The seat belt must be worn correctly and kept securely fastened while the vehicle is in motion on the road.
Passengers are responsible for making sure that they wear their own seat belts correctly and that they keep them fastened while the vehicle is in motion.
Most seat belts are retractable. This means they stretch automatically to the correct length when you fasten them and lock only if the vehicle stops suddenly.
If your vehicle has a non-retractable seat belt, you will need to adjust its length before you fasten it. There should be just enough room to slide the palm of your hand between the belt and your chest.
Never put an adult and a child together in the same seat belt.