No. S 116
Road Traffic Act
(Chapter 276)
Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Seat Belts) (Amendment) Rules 2009
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 6 of the Road Traffic Act, the Land Transport Authority of Singapore hereby makes the following Rules:
Citation and commencement
1.  These Rules may be cited as the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Seat Belts) (Amendment) Rules 2009 and shall come into operation on 1st April 2009.
Amendment of rule 2
2.  Rule 2 of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Seat Belts) Rules (R 15) (referred to in these Rules as the principal Rules) is amended —
(a)by inserting, immediately before the definition of “body-restraining seat belt”, the following definition:
“ “Agreement” means the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Agreement Concerning the Adoption of Uniform Technical Prescriptions for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be Fitted and/or be Used on Wheeled Vehicles and the Conditions for Reciprocal Recognition of Approvals Granted on the Basis of these Prescriptions, formerly known as the Agreement Concerning the Adoption of Uniform Conditions of Approval and Reciprocal Recognition of Approval for Motor Vehicle Equipment and Parts, done at Geneva on 20th March 1958;”;
(b)by inserting, immediately after the definition of “seat with integral seat belt anchorages”, the following definition:
“ “small bus” means a bus which has —
(a)a maximum laden weight of not more than 3,500 kilogrammes; and
(b)a seating capacity for not more than 15 persons (excluding the driver);”; and
(c)by deleting the full-stop at the end of the definition of “station wagon” and substituting a semi-colon, and by inserting immediately thereafter the following definitions:
“ “van” means a goods vehicle which has a permanently enclosed body or a cab integrated into its body;
“wheelchair restraint system” means a system which is designed to keep a wheelchair restrained within a space provided in a motor vehicle for the carriage of the wheelchair and its user.”.
Deletion of rules 3 to 10 and substitution of rules 3 to 7
3.  Rules 3 to 10 of the principal Rules are deleted and the following rules substituted therefor:
“Front seat belts
3.—(1)  Every motor vehicle to which this rule applies shall be equipped with —
(a)a body-restraining seat belt designed for use by an adult for the driver’s seat;
(b)a body-restraining seat belt for the specified passengers seat, if any; and
(c)subject to paragraph (2), a body-restraining seat belt for any front passenger seat other than the driver’s seat and the specified passenger’s seat.
(2)  Where any vehicle to which this rule applies cannot, by reason of the design of the vehicle, be equipped with a body-restraining seat belt for any front passenger seat other than the driver’s seat and the specified passenger’s seat, that vehicle shall instead be equipped with a lap belt for that front passenger seat.
(3)  This rule shall apply to —
(a)every motor car, motor car used for instructional purposes, business service passenger vehicle and private hire car registered on or after 1st January 1973;
(b)every taxi;
(c)every light goods vehicle and goods-cum-passengers vehicle;
(d)every ambulance, fire engine, hearse and heavy goods vehicle registered on or after 1st January 1993; and
(e)every bus registered on or after 1st April 2009.
Rear seat belts
4.—(1)  Every motor vehicle to which this paragraph applies shall —
(a)where the motor vehicle is permitted to carry not more than 2 rear seat passengers, be equipped with a body-restraining seat belt for each rear seat passenger; and
(b)where the motor vehicle is permitted to carry more than 2 rear seat passengers, be equipped with —
(i)a body-restraining seat belt for each rear seat passenger on an outboard seat; and
(ii)either a body-restraining seat belt or a lap belt for each remaining rear seat passenger.
(2)  Paragraph (1) shall apply to every motor car, motor car used for instructional purposes, business service passenger vehicle, private hire car, taxi, station wagon constructed for the carriage of up to 8 passengers and motor vehicle having double cabs which is registered on or after 1st January 1993.
(3)  Every motor vehicle to which this paragraph applies shall be equipped with a body-restraining seat belt for each rear seat passenger.
(4)  Paragraph (3) shall apply to —
(a)every motor vehicle which —
(i)is a station wagon adapted from the body of a van, or is adapted or modified for use as a goods-cum-passengers vehicle;
(ii)has been granted modified type-approval in accordance with rule 3D of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (R 5); and
(iii)is registered on or after 1st April 2009;
(b)every station wagon (adapted from the body of a van) which has its seating configuration changed on or after 1st April 2009;
(c)every small bus which has its seating configuration changed on or after 1st April 2009;
(d)every small bus converted on or after 1st April 2009 to a public service vehicle of a different class under the Second Schedule to the Act;
(e)every van converted to a small bus on or after 1st April 2009;
(f)every goods-cum-passengers vehicle (adapted from the body of a van) which is converted to a small bus on or after 1st April 2009;
(g)every goods-cum-passengers vehicle (adapted from the body of a van) which has its seating configuration changed on or after 1st April 2009;
(h)every van converted to a goods-cum-passengers vehicle on or after 1st April 2009; and
(i)every bus converted to a goods-cum-passengers vehicle on or after 1st April 2009.
(5)  A small bus shall be equipped with a body-restraining seat belt for each rear seat passenger —
(a)if it is registered on or after 1st April 2009;
(b)with effect from 1st January 2012, if it —
(i)is registered before 1st April 2009; and
(ii)is used for the conveyance of any child to or from his school; and
(c)with effect from 1st January 2014, if it —
(i)is registered before 1st April 2009; but
(ii)is not used for the conveyance of any child to or from his school.
(6)  Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) to (5), this rule shall not apply to —
(a)any motor vehicle owned by the Singapore Police Force, the Singapore Civil Defence Force, any Auxiliary Police Force or the Singapore Prison Service;
(b)any motor vehicle which —
(i)is constructed or adapted to provide a space for the carriage of a wheelchair and its user; and
(ii)is fitted with a wheelchair restraint system; or
(c)any hearse.
Requirements for seat belts
5.  Every seat belt referred to in these Rules —
(a)shall comply with —
(i)regulation 16 (Uniform provisions concerning the approval of (i) safety belts, restraint systems, child restraint systems and ISOFIX child restraint systems for occupants of power-driven vehicles; and (ii) vehicles equipped with safety belts, safety belt reminder, restraint systems, child restraint systems and ISOFIX child restraint systems) of Addendum 15 to the Agreement; or
(ii)such other specifications as the Registrar may approve from time to time;
(b)shall be legibly and permanently marked with the specifications referred to in sub-paragraph (a)(i) or (ii) which it complies with;
(c)shall be of such design and strength as to be suitable for use in the vehicle in which it is installed;
(d)shall be properly maintained and in good working order at all times; and
(e)shall —
(i)if the seat for which it is provided is a seat with integral seat belt anchorages, be properly secured to the integral seat belt anchorage points forming part of the seat; or
(ii)if the seat for which it is provided is not a seat referred to in sub-paragraph (i), be properly secured to the structure of the vehicle in which it is installed by the seat belt anchorage points provided for it under rule 6.
Seat belt anchorage points
6.—(1)  Subject to paragraph (3), every motor vehicle to which rule 3 applies shall be equipped with anchorage points designed to hold securely in position on the vehicle —
(a)a body-restraining seat belt for the driver’s seat;
(b)a body-restraining seat belt for the specified passenger’s seat, if any; and
(c)a body-restraining seat belt or lap belt for any front passenger seat other than the driver’s seat and the specified passenger’s seat.
(2)  Subject to paragraph (3), every motor vehicle to which rule 4 applies shall be equipped with anchorage points designed to hold securely in position on the vehicle every body-restraining seat belt or lap belt for a rear passenger seat.
(3)  A motor vehicle need not be equipped with anchorage points for any seat which is a seat with integral seat belt anchorages.
Requirements for seat belt anchorage points
7.—(1)  Every seat belt anchorage point referred to in these Rules shall comply with —
(a)regulation 14 (Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to safety-belt anchorages, ISOFIX anchorages systems and ISOFIX top tether anchorages) of Addendum 13 to the Agreement; or
(b)such other specifications as the Registrar may approve from time to time.
(2)  Every seat with integral seat belt anchorages referred to in these Rules shall comply with —
(a)regulation 17 (Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the seats, their anchorages and any head restraints) of Addendum 16 to the Agreement;
(b)regulation 80 (Uniform provisions concerning the approval of seats of large passenger vehicles and of these vehicles with regard to the strength of seats and their anchorages) of Addendum 79 to the Agreement; or
(c)such other specifications as the Registrar may approve from time to time.
(3)  Every seat belt anchorage point and its mounting location —
(a)shall be legibly and permanently marked with the specifications referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) or (2)(a), (b) or (c) which it complies with;
(b)shall be of such strength as to be suitable for use —
(i)in the vehicle in which it is installed; and
(ii)with the seat belt for which it is provided;
(c)shall be structurally sound and free of corrosion; and
(d)shall not be damaged or distorted.”.
Amendment of rule 11
4.  Rule 11 of the principal Rules is amended —
(a)by deleting paragraph (1) and substituting the following paragraph:
“(1)  A person shall be guilty of an offence if he uses, or causes or permits to be used, on any road any vehicle —
(a)which does not comply with rule 3, 4 or 6;
(b)any seat belt of which does not comply with rule 5; or
(c)any seat belt anchorage point, seat with integral seat belt anchorages or seat belt anchorage point mounting location of which does not comply with rule 7.”; and
(b)by deleting paragraph (4) and substituting the following paragraph:
“(4)  Any person who sells, supplies, offers to sell or supply or alters a vehicle in contravention of paragraph (2) or (3) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $2,000.”.

Made this 16th day of March 2009.

MICHAEL LIM CHOO SAN
Chairman,
Land Transport Authority of Singapore.
[LTA/RY/IE/C&U/08; AG/LEG/SL/276/2005/43 Vol. 1]
(To be presented to Parliament under section 141(1) of the Road Traffic Act).
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