Passenger safety
The seatbelt and the right child seat are the simplest way to save a life in a crash. Let's sort out what the driver must do and how to carry children correctly.
Seatbelts
While moving, both the driver and passengers whose seats are fitted with seatbelts must be belted. The driver is responsible: they may not carry unbelted passengers. A belt only works when worn correctly — snug and across the hips, not tucked under an arm.
Carrying children
A child up to 150 cm tall must ride in a child seat or on a booster suited to their age and weight. The seat is installed, and the child fastened, according to the manufacturer's instructions. A suitable seat spreads the load the way a child's body needs — a plain belt alone cannot do that.
Before you drive off
Make sure everyone is belted and the child is in their seat before you move off. This is the driver's duty, not the passengers' choice. A few seconds to check is the simplest safety margin you have.
Real-world situations
A rear passenger does not want to belt up because the trip is short.
Ask them to belt up: in a seat with a belt it is mandatory, and the driver is responsible. Move off only once they have done so.
You are carrying a six-year-old about 115 cm tall.
Put them in a child seat suited to their age and weight and fasten them per the instructions. For a child under 150 cm, a plain belt alone is not enough.
There is a child seat, but it is not secured and slides on the seat.
Do not drive off until the seat is installed per the manufacturer's instructions. An unsecured seat protects almost nothing in a crash.
Common mistakes
Assuming you can skip the belt in the back.
Everyone whose seat is fitted with a belt must be belted — including in the back.
Carrying a short child on a plain belt with no seat.
A child under 150 cm rides in a suitable seat or on a booster; a plain belt alone will not do.
Wearing the belt under the arm or too loose.
Wear the belt snug and across the hips; a badly worn belt protects far worse in a crash.
Key takeaways
- The driver and all passengers in belt-fitted seats must be belted.
- The driver may not carry unbelted passengers.
- A child up to 150 cm rides in a suitable seat or on a booster.
- The seat is installed and the child fastened per the manufacturer's instructions.
Check yourself
Who in the vehicle must be belted?
Up to what height must a child ride in a suitable child seat or booster?
A passenger refuses to belt up. What does the driver do?
Before you move off
- Belt up yourself — snug, across the hips
- Check that all passengers are belted
- Put a child under 150 cm in a suitable seat
- Install the seat per the manufacturer's instructions
- Move off only when everyone is ready
Frequent questions
Do rear passengers need to belt up too?
Yes. Every passenger whose seat is fitted with a seatbelt must be belted, whether in the front or the back.
Up to what height does a child need a seat?
A child no taller than 150 cm must ride in a child seat or on a booster suited to their age and weight.
May a child ride in the front seat?
Without a child seat or booster — only from age 12 or a height of 150 cm. Younger or shorter — only in a suitable seat. Up to 15 months the seat must face rearward, and such a seat must not be placed on a front seat with an active airbag.
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