8.2 Seat Belts and Child Safety Seats

Seat belts are the single most effective protection in a crash, and Barbados made them compulsory in 2001. The rules are in Part IIIA (sections 36A to 36H) of the Road Traffic Act, Cap. 295.

Which vehicles must have belts (s.36B)

Belts must be an integral part of the vehicle and restrain both the upper and lower body, except that a centre front seat in a vehicle authorised to carry two front passengers may have a lap belt. Owners must make sure the required belts are fitted. The penalty is a fine of BBD $500 for a first offence and BBD $1,000 for a later one (s.36C). The Licensing Authority may refuse to register a vehicle without them.

Who must wear a belt (s.36D)

• Every person travelling in a vehicle listed in the first row of the table must wear a belt while the vehicle is in motion or the engine is turned on.
• In a public service vehicle, the driver and front-seat passengers must wear belts.
• The driver of a motor omnibus, tour coach or motor tractor must wear a belt.
• One person per belt. A seat belt must not be worn by more than one person at a time (s.36D(4)). An adult holding a child inside the same belt breaks the law and endangers the child.
• Penalty: a fine of BBD $500 or 6 months' imprisonment, or both (s.36D(5)).

Exceptions (s.36E)

1. Medical certificate. A person holding a valid certificate from a medical practitioner registered in Barbados, saying it is inadvisable on medical grounds to wear a belt, is not convicted, provided the certificate is produced to the police officer or transport inspector at the time, or within 7 days at a police station or the Licensing Authority.
2. Reversing. A driver is not convicted for not wearing a belt while reversing the vehicle (s.36E(3)). That is why a Barbados test question asks which manoeuvre you may perform without a seat belt. The answer is reversing.

Children (s.36F to 36H)

No child may travel in a private motor car, private goods vehicle, hired car or self-driven car unless the child:

• A rear-facing child safety seat may be placed in the front passenger seat only if the vehicle has no air bag on the front passenger side (s.36F(2)). An inflating air bag can kill a baby in a rear-facing seat.
• A child safety seat must be of a type approved by the Barbados National Standards Institution (s.36A).
• The driver is responsible: the penalty is a fine of BBD $500 or 3 months' imprisonment, or both (s.36G), unless a valid medical certificate for the child is produced (s.36H).

Using belts properly

• The lap section goes low across the hips, not the stomach. The diagonal goes across the shoulder and chest, not the neck.
• Adjust the head restraint so that its middle is level with the top of your ears.
• Pregnant passengers must still wear the belt, with the lap part below the bump.
• Use the child locks on rear doors when carrying children, even if they are wearing belts.

Why belts matter

In a collision at 50 km/h an unbelted occupant keeps moving at that speed until something stops them: the windscreen, the dashboard, another occupant or the road. Belts spread the stopping force across the strongest parts of the body, keep occupants inside the vehicle, and stop rear passengers from being thrown into those in front. Wearing one is a legal duty and a basic part of defensive driving.

Exam traps

• "Rear passengers in a private car need not wear belts." False. Section 36D(1) covers every person travelling in the vehicle, front and rear.
• "A belt is only needed once the car is moving." The duty applies while the vehicle is in motion or the engine is turned on.
• "Children wearing belts don't need child locks." Belts and child locks do different jobs. A belted child can still open a door, so use the locks.
• Who pays for an unrestrained child? The driver commits the offence under s.36G.