LAND TRANSPORTATION RELATED LAWS /REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8750 – “SEAT BELTS USE ACT OF 1999”
AN ACT REQUIRING THE MANDATORY COMPLIANCE BY MOTORISTS OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC VEHICLES TO USE SEAT BELTS DEVICES AND REQUIRING VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS TO INSTALL SEAT BELT DEVICES IN ALL THEIR MANUFACTURED VEHICLES.
It is the policy of the State to secure and safeguard its citizenry, particularly the passengers and drivers of private and public motor vehicles, from the ruinous and extremely injurious effects of vehicular road crash. Towards this end, the State shall pursue a more proactive and preventive approach in order to secure the safety of the passengers and drivers at all times with the mandatory enforcement of the use of seat belt devices by the drivers and front seat passengers of private and public motor vehicles.
MANDATORY USE OF SEAT BELTS
Passengers of all motor vehicles whether private or for hire seated facing forward in the front row seats and those seated at the back row (passenger immediately behind the driver) of private cars, Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) and for hire vehicle are required to wear seat belts while inside a vehicle of running engine on any road or thoroughfare. Passengers seated at the back row of the following private motor vehicles: jeeps, passenger vans/wagons, Asian Utility Vehicles (AUV), buses, trucks, vintage cars and special purpose vehicles shall be exempted from wearing or using seat belt devices while inside a vehicle of running engine on any road or thoroughfare.
In the case of “for hire” motor vehicles, the driver shall be required to immediately inform and require the front seat passengers upon boarding a vehicle of running engine to wear the prescribed seat belts. Any passenger who refuses to wear seat belts shall be directed to take another seat for which a seat belt is not required or else he/she shall not be allowed to continue his/her trip. In addition, he/she will be informed that no insurance can be recovered in case of accident.
Appropriate signage shall be posted on public or for hire vehicles.
The seat belt law does not apply to seatbelt assemblies for the following seat type:
- Folding seats which are provided at aisles, loading platform or spaces other than those designed exclusively for installing seats (except those seat in which only the seat-back section can be folded.)
- Single-seater provided at the side of the driver’s seat three-wheeled motor vehicles where the rotational angle of the steering wheel or bar is less than seven times the rotational angle of steering tire.
- Seats facing sideward
- Seats provided in close proximity to emergency exit
EXEMPTION
This Act does not apply to a passenger or operator with a physically disabling ailment or medical condition which would prevent appropriate restraint in a safety belt, if the condition is duly certified by a licensed physician and surgeon or a licensed chiropractor who shall state the nature of the condition as well as the reason why the restraint is inappropriate.
FINES & PENALTIES
FAILURE TO WEAR THE PRESCRIBED SEAT BELT AND FOR ALLOWING A CHILD 6 YEARS OLD AND BELOW TO SIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.
- First Offense – One thousand pesos (Php 1,000.00)
- Second Offense – Two thousand pesos (Php 2,000.00)
- Third Offense – Five thousand pesos (Php 5,000.00) plus one (1) week suspension of driver’s license counting from the payment of fine.
FAILURE TO POST APPROPRIATE SEAT BELT SIGNAGE (FOR PUV) AND FAILURE TO REQUIRE THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER TO WEAR A SEATBELT.
For PUV’s both the driver and operator are liable to pay the fine of three thousand pesos (Php 3,000.00) for every violation.
