However, passengers in cars which do not have rear seat belts are “not obliged by law” to use safety belts as the owners of cars manufactured without rear safety belts are not obliged to install them in their cars.
The reasoning behind this exception is that cars which do not have rear seat belts are not designed to have them, and installing them might be more dangerous than if the car had to remain without the rear seat belts.
In other words, the new regulations do not apply to cars which were manufactured without rear seat belts and no warden, traffic inspector or policeman can order someone to install rear seat belts.
The Maltese government was adhering to a target set by transport ministers of European Union member states. This target is aimed at reducing by half the number of victims of traffic accidents by 2010. In Malta, an average of 20 people lose their life as result of traffic accidents every year. Between July and September last year, 358 people were involved in traffic accidents – four people died, 74 were seriously injured and in imminent danger and 280 were slightly injured.
A spokesman for the Roads Ministry said yesterday that it was scientifically proven that the use of rear seat belts would help prevent a worse traffic accident. He said that the introduction in January this year of seat belts for children under 12 years of age has had positive effects.
Contacted for comments, Kenneth Demartino, from Guard and Warden Service Ltd, the company which employs the traffic wardens, said the wardens will once again conduct an educational campaign on the roads. In January, he said, wardens were stopping people to inform them of the new regulation rather than just to fine them. He said that this time round, the wardens “will make a special effort to educate rather than enforce immediately”.
Asked whether any fines were issued for children who were not wearing their seat belts, Mr Demartino said yes, but did not specify the amount.
The fine for people not wearing their seat belt in the front and back of the car is Lm10.