Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Seat Belts) Rules

Road Traffic Act

(CHAPTER 276, Section 6)

R 15

G.N. No. S 326/1977

REVISED EDITION 1999

(30th September 1999)

[30th December 1977]

Citation

1. These Rules may be cited as the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Seat Belts) Rules.

Definitions

2. In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires —

“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;

[S 116/2009 wef 01/04/2009]

“body-restraining seat belt” means a seat belt designed to provide restraint for both the upper and lower parts of the trunk of the wearer in the event of an accident to the vehicle;

“business service passenger vehicle” has the meaning given by rule 2(1) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (R 5);

[S 250/2019 wef 01/04/2019]

“goods-cum-passengers vehicle” means —

(a)	a station wagon constructed for the carriage of 7 passengers or more, excluding the driver, and registered by the owner for the use by him or a member of his family or any person by his authority without consideration for social or domestic purposes or for the owner’s business and excluding the use for instructional purposes for reward;
(b)	a panel van; or
(c)	a twin-cabin goods vehicle;

“heavy goods vehicle” means —

(a)	a goods vehicle the maximum laden weight of which exceeds 3.0 metric tonnes, registered using a certificate of entitlement issued before 1st April 1998; or
(b)	a goods vehicle the maximum laden weight of which exceeds 3.5 metric tonnes, registered using a certificate of entitlement issued on or after 1st April 1998,

but does not include any construction equipment, engineering plant, trivan, recovery vehicle or any vehicle used as a mobile canteen or mobile bank;

“lap belt” means a seat belt, anchored at not less than 2 points, which passes across the front of the wearer’s pelvic region and which restrains the lower part of the wearer’s torso;

“light goods vehicle” means —

(a)	a goods vehicle the maximum laden weight of which does not exceed 3.0 metric tonnes, registered using a certificate of entitlement issued before 1st April 1998; or
(b)	a goods vehicle the maximum laden weight of which does not exceed 3.5 metric tonnes, registered using a certificate of entitlement issued on or after 1st April 1998,

but does not include any construction equipment, engineering plant, trivan, motor cycle with a side-car attached to it, recovery vehicle and any vehicle used as a mobile canteen or mobile bank;

“private hire car” means a motor car which does not ply for hire on any road but is hired under a contract, expressed or implied, for the use of the motor car as a whole;

“seat belt” means a belt intended to be worn by a person in a vehicle and designed to prevent or lessen injury to its wearer in the event of an accident to the vehicle and includes, in the case of a restraining device for a young person, any special chair to which the belt is attached;

“seat with integral seat belt anchorages” means a seat which is fitted with all the anchorage points required for use in connection with the seat belt provided for that seat;

“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); [S 116/2009 wef 01/04/2009]

“specified passenger’s seat” means —

(a)	in the case of a vehicle which has a forward-facing front seat alongside the driver’s seat, such seat, and in the case of a vehicle which has more than one such seat, the one furthest from the driver’s seat; or
(b)	if the vehicle has no seat which is the specified passenger’s seat under paragraph (a), the forward-facing front seat for a passenger which is foremost in the vehicle and furthest from the driver’s seat, unless there is a fixed partition separating such seat from the space in front of it alongside the driver’s seat;

“station wagon” means a vehicle with folding seats and side doors and either a tail-board or doors opening at the rear, constructed or adapted for the carriage of goods as well as passengers;

“van” means a goods vehicle which has a permanently enclosed body or a cab integrated into its body;

[S 116/2009 wef 01/04/2009]

“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.

[S 116/2009 wef 01/04/2009]

General powers of Registrar or authorised officer

2A.—(1) The Registrar or an authorised officer may, by notice, require the owner of a vehicle to furnish evidence that the vehicle complies with all or any of the provisions of these Rules.

(2) The Registrar or an authorised officer may, in any particular case, upon the application of any person, waive the operation of any provisions in these Rules in relation to that person or a vehicle that is the subject of that application, subject to such conditions as the Registrar or the authorised officer may impose.

(3) In this rule, “authorised officer” has the same meaning as in section 6(4) of the Act.

[S 468/2017 wef 24/08/2017]

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 passenger’s 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, heavy goods vehicle and medical transport vehicle registered on or after 1st January 1993; and [S 1053/2021 wef 03/01/2022]
(e)	every bus registered on or after 1st April 2009,

except any omnibus which —

(i)	is registered in the name of the Authority or any bus services contractor; and [S 733/2017 wef 18/12/2017]
(ii)	is or is to be used for any regular route service. [S 733/2017 wef 18/12/2017]

(4) In this rule —

“ambulance” means a motor vehicle that is specifically equipped for —

(a)	the transport on roads of; and
(b)	the provision, during such transport, of out-of-hospital clinical care to,

sick or injured individuals who require emergency medical treatment;

[S 1053/2021 wef 03/01/2022]

“bus services contractor” means any person who has a contract with the Authority to provide 10 or more regular route services specified in the contract;

“medical transport vehicle” means a motor vehicle that is equipped to provide non-emergency patient transport services;

[S 1053/2021 wef 03/01/2022]

“non-emergency patient transport services” means transport services for fee or reward that relate solely to the provision of transport on roads of individuals —

(a)	whose medical needs have been assessed as requiring patient transport and not being time-critical or acute; and
(b)	who may require basic care and observation or clinical care and monitoring during transport;

[S 1053/2021 wef 03/01/2022]

“regular route service” has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Bus Services Industry Act 2015 (Act 30 of 2015).

[S 733/2017 wef 18/12/2017]

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 Government for the purposes or use of —

(i)	the Singapore Police Force;
(ii)	the Singapore Civil Defence Force;
(iii)	any Auxiliary Police Force created by the Government;
(iv)	the Singapore Prison Service; [S 210/2012 wef 18/05/2012]
(v)	the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority; [S 210/2012 wef 18/05/2012] [S 44/2019 wef 21/01/2019]
(vi)	the Central Narcotic Bureau; or [S 210/2012 wef 18/05/2012] [S 290/2010 wef 27/05/2010] [S 44/2019 wef 21/01/2019]
(vii)	the Singapore Customs; [S 44/2019 wef 21/01/2019]

(aa)

any motor vehicle owned by an employer of an Auxiliary Police Force (other than the Government) for the purposes or use of that Auxiliary Police Force;

[S 290/2010 wef 27/05/2010]

(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.

[S 116/2009 wef 01/04/2009]

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. [S 116/2009 wef 01/04/2009]

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.

[S 116/2009 wef 01/04/2009]

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.

[S 116/2009 wef 01/04/2009]

8. [Deleted by S 116/2009 wef 01/04/2009]

9. [Deleted by S 116/2009 wef 01/04/2009]

10. [Deleted by S 116/2009 wef 01/04/2009]

Offences and penalties

11.—(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. [S 116/2009 wef 01/04/2009]

(2) It shall not be lawful to sell or to supply or to offer to sell or supply a vehicle in such a condition that the use thereof in that condition would be unlawful by virtue of these Rules.

(3) It shall not be lawful to alter a vehicle so as to render its condition such that the use thereof in that condition would be unlawful by virtue of these Rules.

(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.

[S 116/2009 wef 01/04/2009]

(5) A person shall not be convicted for an offence under this rule in respect of the sale, supply, offer or alteration of a vehicle if he proves that it was so sold, supplied, offered or altered, as the case may be, for export from Singapore or that he has reasonable cause to believe that the vehicle would not be used in Singapore or would not be so used until it had been put into a condition in which it might lawfully be so used.

[G.N. Nos. S 326/77; S 84/79; S 217/81; S 377/81; S 140/82; S 272/82; S 348/82; S 108/83; S 292/92; S 418/92; S 523/92; S 194/98]

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