Explainer | Hong Kong to enforce new seat belt rules on January 25: what you need to know

In just over a week, passengers on various modes of public and private transport in Hong Kong will be required to wear seat belts under new rules to enhance safety through stricter penalties for motorists and commuters. The Post looks at the new rules and what passengers, including those with special needs, should do in different scenarios. 1. What are the new rules? From January 25, all passengers must wear seat belts wherever available on public and private buses – including franchised and school services – as well as those on the rear seats in private light buses and goods vehicles. Those who fail to comply with the rules could face a maximum fine of HK$5,000 (US$640) and up to three months in prison. Private vehicle drivers, including those of goods and special-purpose vehicles, will also bear responsibility for their passengers under the age of 15. If these passengers are found unbuckled, the driver faces a separate fine of HK$2,000. Authorities said that if a child could sit upright on their own, they should occupy their own seat and wear a seat belt. For toddlers who cannot sit by themselves, adults should first fasten their own seat belts and hold onto the child to reduce the risk of being thrown in the event of an accident. All passenger seats in these public and private vehicles, including seats in special-purpose vehicles such as mobile cranes or street-cleaning trucks, must be fitted with seat belts if they are first registered on or after January 25. 2. How much preparation have bus operators done? The government said about 60 per cent of Hong Kong’s 3,500 buses were equipped with seat belts. In a reply to the Post, a spokesman for Citybus said about 800 of its fleet of 1,700 buses had completed the installation of seat belts on all seats throughout the vehicles or those on the upper deck. The rest had seat belts fitted at seats deemed to be at higher risk. He added that all new double-decker buses bought by the company since 2018 had been equipped with seat belts on every seat, and that the firm had been actively promoting the new policy via various channels. “To ensure drivers are fully informed about the new policy, Citybus has developed internal guidelines and recommended procedures for various scenarios for all drivers’ reference,” the spokesman said. 3. Will drivers enforce the rules on board buses? KMB told the Post that it had issued internal guidelines to drivers regarding the new regulations and that they were not required to inspect seat belts individually. The Citybus spokesman stressed that the firm’s drivers must remain fully focused on driving, with road safety as their paramount consideration, while passengers should take the initiative to use seat belts to enhance safety during their journeys. Citybus said it had incorporated a dedicated broadcast option within its bus smart system, enabling drivers to activate announcements when necessary to remind and encourage passengers to fasten their seat belts. 4. What should you do if your seat belt malfunctions? According to a KMB spokesman, the guidelines stipulate that if a driver discovers or is notified by a passenger of a malfunctioning or damaged seat belt, they should record the incident under safe conditions and report it to the company upon arrival at the terminus. “Each vehicle in the fleet undergoes regular inspections, including daily checks, monthly inspections and annual bus inspections. These inspections cover the operation of all seat belts to ensure all mechanical components and equipment are in proper working order,” he said. Citybus said it conducted monthly and yearly comprehensive inspections and maintenance, which included checks on all seat belts across its fleet to ensure they remained in good working order. 5. How can people with special needs adapt to the new rules? The Autistic Child Life Building Development Consultancy said those with autism could be “extremely sensitive” to restraint because of sensory integration challenges, and the compulsory wearing of seat belts could trigger anxiety or negative emotions. The consultancy said those who were not previously accustomed to wearing seat belts might require a long time to adapt, suggesting parents or carers instil an awareness about the new rule early on. Some possible approaches include using storytelling or home simulations and frequently accompanying children on outings to help them get used to the sensation of wearing a seat belt. The organisation also advised bringing the Registration Card for People with Disabilities or relevant diagnostic documentation to provide an explanation should enforcement officers or bus conductors ask, especially when compliance with seat belt requirements was not possible.

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Failure to follow the rules could result in a maximum fine of HK$5,000 and up to three months in prison

1. What are the new rules?

Failure to follow the rules could result in a maximum fine of HK$5,000 and up to three months in prison