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SUNDAY, JULY 9, 1989
CHILDREN NOT ALLOWED TO SIT IN MIDDLE FRONT SEAT OF VEHICLES
A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER UNDER THE AGE OF 15
IS NOT ALLOWED TO SIT IN THE MIDDLE SEAT OF A VEHICLE TO WHICH THE REQUIREMENT FOR COMPULSORY WEARING OF SEAT BELTS APPLIES, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY), EXPLAINING THE SEAT BELT LEGISLATION.
THIS IS BECAUSE SEAT BELTS OF APPROVED TYPES CANNOT BE FITTED TO THE MIDDLE FRONT SEATS OF VEHICLES.
THE LAP BELT THAT IS FITTED ΤΟ THE MIDDLE SEAT OF SOME VEHICLES IS NOT AN APPROVED TYPE OF SEAT BELT.
ON THE OTHER HAND, A FRONT SEAT -PASSENGER AGED 15 OR ABOVE SITTING IN THE MIDDLE SEAT IS NOT REQUIRED TO WEAR A SEAT BELT.
IF, HOWEVER, THERE IS ONLY ONE PASSENGER SITTING IN THE FRONT, THAT PASSENGER MUST WEAR A SEAT BELT AND MUST SIT ON THE SEAT NEXT TO THE DOOR REGARDLESS OF HIS AGE.
THE MIDDLE SEAT IS THE SEAT BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND ANOTHER FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. ALL FIVE-SEATER TAXIS, MANY PRIVATE LIGHT BUSES, INCLUDING SCHOOL LIGHT BUSES, AND SOME PRIVATE CARS HAVE MIDDLE SEATS.
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ALSO POINTED OUT THAT AS EACH SEAT BELT MAY BE USED BY ONLY ONE PERSON AT A TIME, IT IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS BUT ALSO AN OFFENCE FOR A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER ΤΟ HOLD A CHILD IN HIS ARMS OR HAVE THE CHILD SIT ON HIS LAP.
A CHILD IS CONSIDERBLY MUCH SAFER TO TRAVEL IN THE REAR SEATS AND IT IS STRONGLY ADVISED THAT THIS PRACTICE BE ADOPTED.
BUT IF IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE CHILDREN TO TRAVEL IN THE FRONT SEATS, THEN THEY MUST BE SUITABLY RESTRAINED. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT A CHILD AGED TWO OR BELOW WHEN SITTING IN THE FRONT MUST
BE SECURELY FASTENED TO THE SEAT BY AN APPROVED RESTRAINT ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN.
THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES OF VEHICLES ARE REQUIRED TO BE FITTED WITH SEAT BELTS:
* ALL PRIVATE CARS MANUFACTURED ON OR AFTER JUNE 30, 1964 AND
FIRST REGISTERED ON OR AFTER AUGUST 1, 1976;
*
ALL TAXIS MANUFACTURED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 1981; AND
ALL PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES MANUFACTURED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 1984.
THE DRIVERS AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS OF THESE VEHICLES ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR SEAT BELTS.
THE COMPULSORY