Traffic (Seat Belts) Regulations

PUBLISHING DETAILS

Arrangement of Regulations

Regulation

Regulation 1

In exercise of the powers conferred by sections 70 and 142 of the Traffic Law, 2011the Governor in Cabinet makes the following Regulations — Citation These Regulations may be cited as the Traffic (Seat Belts) Regulations, 2012 and come into force immediately after the Traffic Law, 2011 [Law 26 of 2011] comes into force. Interpretation (1) In these Regulations — “adult seat belt” means a — (a) a three-point belt; or (b) a lap belt; “child” means a person under the age of fourteen years; “disabled person’s belt” means a seat belt which is specially designed or adapted for use by — (a) an adult; or (b) a young person, suffering from some physical defect or disability and which is intended for use solely by such a person;

Regulation 3

“front seat”, in relation to a vehicle, means a seat which is wholly or partially in the front of the vehicle; “lap belt” means a seat belt which passes across the front of the wearer’s pelvic region and which is designed for use by an adult; “medical certificate”, in relation to a person driving or riding in a vehicle, means a medical certificate of a specified period of validity issued by a medical practitioner to the effect that it is inadvisable on medical grounds for that person to wear a seat belt; “rear seat”, in relation to a vehicle, means a seat which is not a front seat; “relevant vehicle” means — (a) a motor car; (b) an oversize vehicle; a special vehicle; and (d) a truck; “seat” includes any part of a vehicle designed for the accommodation of one person or a continuing seat designed for the accommodation of more than one person; “passenger’s seat” means a seat within the vehicle other than the driver’s seat where a passenger would normally be seated; and “three-point belt” means a seat belt which — (a) restrains the upper and lower parts of the torso; (b) includes a lap belt; is anchored at not less than three points; and (d) is designed for use by an adult. (2) A seat shall be regarded as provided with an adult seat belt if it is fixed in such a position that it can be worn by an occupier of that seat. References to the front of a vehicle Every part of the vehicle forward of the transverse vertical plane passing through the rearmost part of the driver’s seat is the front of the vehicle; and accordingly no part of the vehicle to the rear of that plane shall be regarded as being in the front of the vehicle. Seat belts in vehicles (1) A vehicle shall be fitted with — (a) a seat belt on the driver’s seat; and (b) a seat belt on each passenger’s seat in the vehicle,

Regulation 5

and for the avoidance of doubt an oversize vehicle and a special vehicle shall be fitted with a seat belt on the driver’s seat and each passenger’s seat in the vehicle. (2) Seat belts referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be of a type — (a) fitted in the vehicle by the manufacturer of the vehicle; or (b) notified in the Gazette by the Director. Requirement for adults to wear adult belts Subject to regulations 6, 7 and 8, every person who is not a child — (a) driving a relevant vehicle; (b) riding in the front seat of a relevant vehicle; or riding in a rear seat of a relevant vehicle, shall wear an adult seat belt. General exemptions Regulation 5 does not apply to — (a) a person holding a medical certificate; (b) a person driving a vehicle while performing a manoeuvre which includes reversing; or a disabled person who is wearing a disabled person’s belt. Description of seat belt to be worn by children A child travelling in a relevant vehicle shall wear an adult seat belt or a child restraint which is of a type approved by the Director for use by a child and notified in the Gazette. Exemptions for children Regulation 7 does not apply to — (a) a child for whom there is a medical certificate; (b) a child under two years of age in a carry cot restrained by a seat belt; or a disabled child who is wearing a disabled person’s belt.

Regulation 8

Made in Cabinet the 29th day of August, 2012 Kim Bullings Clerk of the Cabinet