SMALL VEHICLES

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SMALL VEHICLES

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(Compulsory wearing of seat belts/lap belts): **

31.

Assoc. Prof. Kalyani K Mehta asked the Minister for Transport when his Ministry intends to make wearing of seat belts/lap belts in small vehicles other than cars, compulsory for all passengers.

Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat: Since 1st January 1973, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has made it a requirement for small vehicles such as cars, taxis and light commercial vehicles, which include small lorries, vans and twin-cabin goods vehicles, to have seat belts for the driver’s and front passengers’ seats before they can be registered. LTA has also made it a requirement since 1st January 1993, for cars, taxis and twin-cabin goods vehicles to have seat belts for rear passengers’ seats before they can be registered.

As announced by the Minister for Transport on 17th May 2008, LTA will mandate that all new small buses must be installed with seat belts. LTA is currently working with the relevant stakeholders in the industry and will announce the details soon. As for existing buses, LTA is currently working with safety experts and industry stakeholders to study how best to implement this.

The law today stipulates that, in general, when a seat belt is available, the passenger, be it in the car, taxi or commercial vehicle, has to put it on. LTA will work closely with the Traffic Police on ensuring that passengers put on the seat belts if there is one. Seat belts

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are there to enhance the safety of the driver and passengers. Hence I would like to urge everyone to take personal responsibility to look after their own safety, to put it on if there is one.