Is it mandatory for the front passenger to wear a seat belt?
3 Answers
It is mandatory for the front passenger to wear a seat belt. Below are the functions of wearing a seat belt and the hazards of not wearing one: Functions: It serves to restrain movement and provide cushioning, absorbing impact energy, dissipating inertial forces, and preventing or reducing the severity of injuries to the driver and passengers. Hazards of not wearing a seat belt: If the seat belt is not fastened before a collision, the airbag may instead cause harm to the occupants. Without the restraint of the seat belt, not only will some of the impact energy fail to be dissipated from the occupants, but the rapidly inflating airbag will collide head-on with the fast-moving occupants. The tremendous force generated by the rapid expansion of the airbag will strike the occupants' heads and chests with significant impact.
As a parent of two children, I always emphasize the importance of fastening seat belts in the front passenger seat. This is not only because it's legally mandated—for instance, Article 51 of China's Road Traffic Safety Law requires all passengers to wear seat belts, with a fine of 200 yuan for violations—but also a matter of life safety. Last year during our family road trip, my wife almost hit her head during a sudden brake because she wasn't wearing one. Fortunately, she later developed the habit. Now that my kids are older and driving, they’ve learned from me to remind their friends to buckle up. Seat belts are the most fundamental protection in car accidents, reducing severe injuries by over 50%, especially preventing ejection from the vehicle or impact with the interior. Don’t assume short trips or low speeds make it safe to skip—accidents often happen in an instant. I recommend buckling up every time you get in the car to build safety awareness and prevent family tragedies.
I'm a college student and often go on road trips with friends. Wearing seat belts in the front passenger seat is our basic rule. Traffic laws are similar everywhere—not wearing one can result in fines and possibly penalty points. In terms of actual safety, seat belts prevent you from being thrown during a collision and work best when combined with airbags. I remember watching a documentary once where unbelted passengers suffered severe injuries in a rollover accident. New cars come with reminder systems that beep until you buckle up. Driving courses also teach this—safety awareness should be cultivated from a young age. I always remind front-seat passengers to 'buckle up quickly' because you can't afford to regret it after an accident. Developing good riding habits protects yourself and is also a responsibility to others.
