Seat belts
You must wear a seat belt in motor vehicles including cars, trucks, and buses that have them fitted.
You must wear a seat belt in:
- cars
- trucks
- buses that have them fitted.
Everyone must wear a seat belt, including pregnant women, children and older people.
The vehicle's driver must wear a seat belt and make sure everyone in the vehicle is wearing their seat belt properly, including children.
Drivers can be fined if they are not wearing a seatbelt or if their passenger is not wearing their seat belt. Passengers aged 16 years and over can also be fined if they do not wear a seat belt.
There are different requirements for passengers under 16 years of age. View child car seats and restraints for more information about driving with children.
Each seat belt can only be used for one person. They can't be shared.
Seat belts save lives
If you are in a crash, your seat belt stops you from getting thrown around the vehicle, or out of the vehicle.
Seat belts help make your car's airbags more effective by holding you in the right position if the airbags are deployed.
How to wear your seat belt
Adjust your seat belt so that:
- it's clipped in
- the lap belt fits firmly across your pelvis, under your stomach and above your thighs
- the sash:
- crosses your chest diagonally
- sits across your shoulder
- does not rub against your neck or upper arm. Many cars allow you to adjust the shoulder strap height.
- it isn't twisted or slack.
Lap style seat belts
Lap style seat belts, also known as 2-point seat belts, are a type of seat belt that goes over your hips, and does not go over your shoulder. They are common in older cars.
| Age of passenger | Using a lap-style seat belt |
|---|---|
| Under 4 years old | These children can't use a lap-style seat belt. |
| Between 4 and 16 years old | Children between the ages of 4 and 7 may only use a lap style seat belt if it is fitted with an approved child safety harness. We recommend children between the ages of 4 and 16 continue to use an approved child restraint or booster seat until they have outgrown it. |
| Older than 16 years | You can use a lap-style seat belt if you are over 16 years old. |
Replace broken seat belts
Replace a seat belt if:
- the seat belt material is not frayed or cut
- it doesn't clip in or release properly
- the seat belt retractor doesn't work properly
- seat belt warning device (if fitted) isn't working.
When you don't have to wear a seat belt
You don't have to wear a seat belt if you are:
- reversing a vehicle
- a passenger in a police or emergency vehicle
- receiving emergency medical treatment while travelling in a vehicle
- travelling under 25 km/h because you're:
- making a door-to-door delivery
- collecting goods or garbage
- travelling with a medical certificate showing you don't have to wear a seat belt.
Medical exemptions
A driver or passenger doesn't have to wear a seat belt (including a child restraint or booster seat) if they have a current medical certificate that:
- explains why you are exempt
- is signed by a medical practitioner (a doctor, for example)
- shows the date it was written
- has an expiry date of less than a year from the date of issue
- is in the vehicle when the exempt person is travelling.
Rules for seat belts
The rules for seat belts and child restraints are in Part 16 of the Road Safety Road Rules 2017:
- 263A - Requirement that seatbelt etc. be properly adjusted and fastened
- 263B - Driver or passenger in motor vehicle must not occupy the same seating position as another person
- 264 - Drivers must comply with seatbelt requirements
- 264A - Driver must ensure passengers comply with seatbelt requirements
- 265 - Passengers 16 years old or older must comply with seatbelt requirements
- 266 - Driver must ensure passengers under 16 years old are appropriately secured
- 266A - Appropriate securing of passengers under 16 years old
- 267 - Exemptions from wearing seat belts - certificate exempting person
- 267A - Exemption from wearing seatbelt - seating position not fitted with seatbelt
- 267B - Exemption from wearing seatbelt - passenger in police vehicle etc
- 267C - Exemption from wearing seatbelt - other exemptions