Mandatory seat belt rule comes into full effect

Drivers and all passengers travelling on expressways are legally required to wear seat belts

The National Council for Road Safety said that police have begun imposing fines for seat belt violations across the country, following the conclusion of a three-month transition period. 

Council Chairman Manjula Kularatne said the grace period, introduced to allow motorists time to adapt to stricter road safety regulations, officially ended on December 24. He said that law enforcement officers have now been instructed to strictly enforce the law in an effort to reduce the high number of road fatalities and serious injuries reported annually in Sri Lanka. 

Under the new enforcement measures, all drivers and passengers travelling on expressways are legally required to wear seat belts, including those seated in the rear. On all other roads, the regulation applies to drivers and front-seat passengers. 

Emphasising the importance of compliance, Kularatne said that wearing seat belts significantly reduces the risk of death and severe injury during traffic accidents. He described the measure as a simple yet vital component of the government’s broader road safety strategy.