UPDATE: Thailand introduces fine for not wearing seat belt in the back seat

UPDATE:

The Royal Thai Police will go easy on people who break the new seat belt law “in the early phase” according to Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau Pol. Maj. Gen. Jirasan Kaewsaeng-ek.

The officer confirmed yesterday that from September 5, the driver and all passengers – including those in the back seat – are required by law to wear a seat belt, according to the Road Traffic Act (No.13) 2022. Previous laws only required the driver and front row passengers to strap in.

Instead of dishing out 2,000 baht fines for seat belt offenders right away, the police will focus on giving warnings said the deputy commissioner. Ultimately, whether seat belt offenders are fined or not is “at the discretion of the officer on a case by case basis,” said Jirasan.

Cars which were registered before January 1 1988 that can’t be fitted with seatbelts are exempt from the law.

Regarding the clause of the Road Traffic Act which requires passengers under six years old to sit in car seats, the police said they will release more details about what classifies as a “child safety seat.”

Although the law will take effect from September 5, it could be postponed for a maximum of 90 days while the police finalise details about car seats, said Jirasan.

SOURCE: CH3

ORIGINAL STORY:

Not wearing a seat belt in the back seat of a car in Thailand will soon be punishable by a 2,000 baht fine. The rule will come into effect 120 after its publication in the Royal Gazette on September 5, 2022.

The Royal Gazette wrote the new rule into the Road Traffic Act (No.13) 2022, published on May 7. The act aims to improve road safety, especially for young children.

Parents are required to ensure that their children wear a seat belt for the duration of their journey to prevent injuries in the event of an accident.

Under Section 123, drivers and passengers must abide by the following rules while travelling in a car…

1. The driver must wear a seat belt at all times while driving.
2. Passengers
   • Front seat passengers and passengers sitting in the back or any other row are required to wear a seat belt at all times while travelling in a vehicle.
   • Passengers under 6 years old must be seated in a child safety seat at all times while travelling to prevent injuries in the event of an accident.
   • Passengers under 135 centimetres must wear a seat belt at all times while travelling to prevent injuries in the event of an accident.

Drivers and passengers who are unable to wear a seat belt for health reasons are exempt from complying with Section 123. However, that person must introduce other safety measures to prevent injuries in the event of an accident.

Anyone who does not comply shall be liable to a fine of no more than 2,000 baht.

Thailand was recently ranked as the world’s second most dangerous country to drive in, after South Africa, according to the driving education website Zutobi.

Thailand’s Transport Ministry reported that there were 32,190 recorded road accidents in 2020 and 2021, and most casualties involved pickup trucks.

SOURCE: CH3