As of: March 6, 2024, 7:07 p.m
By: David Holzner
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Anyone driving a car must wear a seatbelt.
Violations of the seatbelt requirement could result in a fine.
But there are some exceptions to the rule.
As soon as you sit in the driver's seat and start driving, you hear the annoying, loud beep: you forgot to buckle up again.
Seat belts have been mandatory in cars for around 50 years.
Today it is hard to imagine road traffic without it.
But that was not always so.
When the general requirement to wear seat belts in the front seats of cars was decreed in Germany on January 1, 1976, there was a lot of misunderstanding.
In a television report by
Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR)
from 1976, drivers were asked about the innovation and gave amusing excuses.
The belt is uncomfortable and it takes too much time to fasten it, it says.
However, buckling up is now almost a given - but the correct seat adjustment is also important.
According to a
2018 study by the
Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt), 99 percent of adults wore their seat belts in the car.
But what exactly is the regulation, what do you have to take into account and are there even exceptions?
An overview.
Fastening your seatbelt in the car: What is the obligation to wear a seatbelt?
The requirement to wear a seat belt has existed for around 50 years.
Only a few are exempt.
© imagebroker/IMAGO
According to
the ADAC,
the requirement to wear a seat belt applies to all motor vehicles with mandatory seat belts, with a few exceptions.
These must remain on throughout the journey.
Seat belts are also required when waiting for traffic and in stop-and-go traffic.
But do you have to buckle up in the rear seats?
According to
ADAC
, yes.
Seat belts are required on all seats with required seat belts.
If these are also required at the rear of your vehicle, you must fasten your seatbelt there.
Children must also wear seat belts.
However, they are particularly at risk when sitting in an adult's seat.
The classic three-point seat belt can cause serious injuries in an accident.
This is why child seats are mandatory for children.
Children are only allowed to ride in the adult seat if they are 1.50 meters tall or twelve years old.
If a child rides in a car without a child seat, they may face fines.
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Wearing a seatbelt in the car: Are there any exceptions to the seatbelt requirement?
In fact, there are a few exceptions to the seat belt requirement.
According to
the ADAC,
you can be exempt from the regulation for health reasons.
A corresponding application must be submitted to the road traffic authority, for which a medical certificate is required.
This must prove an illness that would require a mandatory exemption from the obligation.
A distinction is also made as to whether the illness is temporary or permanent.
People who are less than 1.50 meters tall can also apply for an exemption from the seat belt requirement.
In addition, according to
the ADAC,
there is no obligation to wear a seat belt:
Door-to-door traffic:
Applies to people who regularly have to leave their vehicle in the respective service or delivery area.
Example: parcel delivery person
Walking speed:
This includes reversing and driving in parking lots
Buses:
Seat belts are not required there, provided that standing passengers are allowed to be transported.
Operating staff in buses and coaches:
This also includes accompanying staff for groups of people in particular need of care, whose service requires them to leave their seats.
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Vintage cars are another exception. Many of the old cars have no seat belts at all.
Seat belt requirements were introduced in 1976.
If your classic car was registered before the deadline, the car is protected.
This means that the belts do not need to be retrofitted, which is why you can drive without wearing a seatbelt.
Because only classic cars in their original condition can get the H license plate, which is sought after by many.
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Driving without a seatbelt: How much is the fine?
Seat belts save lives.
According to statistics from the
Federal Statistical Office (Destatis)
, there were 2,830 traffic deaths in Germany in 2023, while in 1975, the year before seat belt requirements were introduced, there were still 14,870.
In addition to the seat belt, other factors and technical innovations contribute to making driving safer.
In addition to your health, you also risk a fine if you drive without a seat belt.
Sos-verkehrsrecht.de
lists the following fines:
Not wearing a seat belt while driving: 30 euros fine
Child not properly secured in the vehicle: 30 euro fine
Child wearing a seatbelt without any security in the car: 60 euros + 1 point in Flensburg
Compulsory seat belts in the car: What you need to pay attention to
In order for a seat belt to have the effect it is intended to have, you should fasten your seat belt properly in the car.
The
ADAC
recommends:
A twisted strap should always be untangled.
The belt should not be placed under the armpit.
Even if this is convenient, it can be life-threatening in an accident.
You should never repair tears or damage to the seat belt yourself.
The belt should always be pulled tight.
It is also important to adjust the headrest correctly.
The top edge of the headrest should be level with the top edge of the head.
What many people don't know is that wearing winter jackets while driving can also be dangerous.
They should therefore be taken off before driving off.