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DID YOU KNOW THAT THE PHILIPPINES HAS A
SEAT BELT LAW? AND THAT THERE ACTUALLY
IS A PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF IT?

According to Republic Act No. 8750, also known as the

Seat Belts Use Act of 1999: “The driver and front
seat passengers of a public or private motor vehicle
are required to wear or use their seat belt devices
while inside a vehicle of running engine on any road
or thoroughfare.” This means that no driver has any
valid excuse to stop using a seat belt while on the
road.
SEATBELT LAW FACTS
The Metro Manila Development
Authority (MMDA) also has set a
No Seat Belt penalty, with meager
fines of P1,000 on the first offense
and P2,000 on the second offense.
On the third offense, you get a
P5,000 fine and have your license
suspended for one week.
 PHILIPPINE VIOLATORS
In a report published by Vera Files, the failure to
wear seatbelts is the most violated traffic rule
in the country. Despite higher penalties
imposed on the failure to wear seatbelts—which
was a quantum leap from P250, P500, and
P1,000 previously billed from seatbelt law
offenders—the government still collected only
around P80 million in seatbelt violations
penalties.
BUCKLE UP FOR SAFETY

Ever since former Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin worked

on the three-point safety belt, millions of lives
have been saved from sudden death due to a car
crash. According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), seatbelts can reduce the
risk of fatality on front-seat passengers by up to
50 percent and up to 75 percent on rear-seat
passengers. In addition, the use of child
restraints instead of allowing a child below six to
sit in the front passenger seat will improve their
chances of survival by up to 80 percent.