South Africa Seatbelt Law 2025 : South Africa has pledged to implement one of the most important changes in road safety for a long time by making the new seatbelt law for 2025, which will be fully operational this December, an official announcement. The new law requires that all people in a car, even those sitting in the back, wear seatbelts and that each unbelted person faces a fixed penalty of R500.
The Department of Transport announced that this law is one of the major steps in the country’s effort to halving road deaths, especially during the festive season, which is when the country experiences the highest number of road accidents.
Why The Seatbelt Law Is Changed
Authorities claim that the number of fatalities attributable to non-wearing of seatbelts is too high. The law has now made all seating places the same, regardless if the vehicle is private, public, or commercial since the front-seat seatbelts had already been mandatory for a while before the new law came into effect.
The estimated risk to life for non-restrained occupants in the rear is about three times more than that of front-seat occupants. Such individuals might even cause injury to the front-seat occupants by their impact force.
Officials from the government argue that the new regulation is not only about imposing fines but also about “the formation of a safety culture that protects every South African on the road”.
Who Is Required To Wear A Seatbelt According To The 2025 Regulations?
The law has been changed, and so now it says:
- Seatbelt is a must for everyone inside the vehicle whenever this is possible.
- This includes the driver, front passenger, rear passengers, and infants.
- Children under a certain age/height must still be secured in a child restraint or booster seat if applicable.
- The public transport providers like taxis, buses, and e-hailing services must see to it that their riders are strapped in if the belts are installed.
The penalty is quite high per each person, meaning that the driver with three passengers not wearing seat belts would be fined a total of R2,000.
When The New Seatbelt Law Will Commence?
The new law will be completely enforced starting from December 2025, which is the peak travelling season in the country. Law enforcement will be more active on the major national highways, and there will be more random safety checks conducted.
Authorities have already told the people that “lack of knowledge will not be a valid reason” and they are encouraging the public to prepare themselves before the first holiday rush.
How South Africans Can Be Prepared
Daily life is suggested to be like:
- Make sure that the seatbelts in your vehicle are working and in good condition.
- Buy the right booster seats for the kids beforehand.
- Inform the entire family, especially the teenagers, about the new fines.
- If you are taking public transport, make sure that the seat belts are there and are functioning.
Also Read: New Seatbelt Law in South Africa: R461 Fines Start December 2025