Lesson 2 of 6
Seatbelts & Child Restraints
5 min read · India-specific
Wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of death in a car crash by 45–50% for front-seat occupants and around 25% for rear-seat occupants. In India, seatbelts are mandatory for ALL passengers — front and rear.
It's the law, not a suggestion
As of 2022, rear-seat passengers not wearing a seatbelt attract a fine of ₹1,000. Every seat in the vehicle must be belted before the car moves.
Children under 14
Children below 14 years must use age-appropriate child restraint systems (CRS) — rear-facing infant seats, forward-facing seats, or booster seats. Never hold a child in your lap in the front seat.
How to wear it
Lap belt low across the hips (not the belly), shoulder belt across the chest and collar bone (not the neck). No slack. Never route the belt under your arm or behind your back.
Key rules
- All occupants — including the back seat — must buckle up
- Use a child restraint for every child under 14
- Never share a seatbelt between two people
- Airbags do not replace seatbelts, they work together