Guidance

Seatbelts on urban buses

Published 1 May 2010

© Crown copyright 2010

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/seat-belts-on-urban-buses/seatbelts-on-urban-buses

This document provides general guidance and advice on the legislative requirements in Great Britain relating to seat belts on urban buses. Every effort has been made to ensure that it is factually correct but recipients should check with the producers of this document if they are unsure about the validity of a particular regulation after the date of publication or if they have reason to believe any part is not correct or is now out of date.

General requirements

Since 1 October 2001, seat belts have been required to be installed in each forward and rearward facing seat in all new buses. The use of an approved and properly fitted restraint system can help prevent death or serious injury, not only by restraining the occupant from forward motion but also by preventing their ejection from the vehicle, particularly in accidents where the vehicle rolls over.

The only exemption from this requirement is for buses that are designed for urban use with standing passengers. An exemption is permitted for these vehicles because they are typically used for short journeys, in both time and distance, undertaken at moderate speeds on urban routes. Although we are aware that vehicles equipped with seat belts are used by some operators for urban fare paying services, ultimately, it is for the operator to choose the type of vehicle used to provide a service.

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