The rules outlined below are an overview, please refer to the rule references for more details.
All drivers and passengers must wear a seat belt or appropriate restraint (including children and pregnant women). Drivers must ensure all passengers are properly restrained. Seat belts must be securely fastened and properly adjusted, and there must be only one person for each seating position and one seat belt for each person.
The penalties for unrestrained or improperly restrained passengers includes:
- fines and demerit points for the driver, and
- fines for passengers aged 16 years and over.
All children under seven must be in a child restraint or booster seat when travelling in a car. The type of restraint will depend on the age of the child. For more information refer to Child Restraints.
Taxi drivers are exempt from ensuring all passengers over 16 are restrained. Children under one year do not have to use a child restraint in a taxi; children over one year must use a seat belt or child restraint (supplied by the passenger) in a taxi. All taxis have to provide an anchor bolt or fitting for one restraint.
Road Safety Road Rules 2009
- 264 Wearing of seatbelts by drivers
- 265 Wearing of seatbelts by passengers 16 years old, or older
- 266 Wearing of seatbelts by passengers under 16 years old
- 267 Exemptions from wearing seatbelts
To look up these rules and check for other related rules, please refer to the Acts and Regulations administered by VicRoads.