New transport rules for drivers and passengers in Hong Kong will be set on Sunday, January 25. All passengers on public transport must wear seat belts wherever available. The rule applies to public and private buses, including school services.
The requirement also applies to the back seats of private light buses and goods vehicles.
Passengers who do not wear a seat belt face a maximum fine of HK$5,000. They could also face up to three months in prison.
Drivers will be legally required to ensure that child passengers are buckled up. If a passenger under 15 is found unbuckled, a driver will face a fine of HK$2,000.
If a child can sit upright on their own, they must sit in their own seat and wear a seat belt. An adult with a toddler who cannot sit by themselves should first fasten their own seat belts. Then, they should hold onto the child to reduce the risk of being thrown from their seat.
All school buses in Hong Kong will have to add seat belts to older vehicles before December 31, 2028. School bus monitors have been asked to make sure all pupils are buckled up.
The government previously said about 60 per cent of Hong Kong’s 3,500 buses were equipped with seat belts.
