What are the penalties for not wearing a seat belt as required?

[LeAdelyn]

According to the relevant provisions in the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," the following penalties apply for not wearing a seat belt while driving: When driving on urban expressways, the driver will be fined and penalized with 2 demerit points for not using a seat belt as required. When driving on roads other than highways or urban expressways, the driver will be fined but not penalized with demerit points for not using a seat belt as required. Introduction to car seat belts: Car seat belts are safety devices designed to restrain occupants during a collision and prevent secondary collisions with the steering wheel, dashboard, etc., or to prevent occupants from being thrown out of the vehicle, which could lead to fatalities or injuries. How car seat belts work: The retractor inside contains a ratchet mechanism. Under normal circumstances, occupants can pull the webbing freely and at a constant speed while seated. However, when the webbing is continuously pulled out and suddenly stops or when the vehicle encounters an emergency, the ratchet mechanism locks automatically, preventing the webbing from being pulled out further.

[Brandon]

I remember last time when I drove my friends for an outing, I forgot to fasten my seatbelt midway and got caught by a traffic cop. The 200-yuan fine was nothing, but the real kicker was losing 2 points, which later caused my insurance premium to increase by a few hundred yuan. That lesson was so profound that now the first thing I do when getting in the car is the ‘click’ of buckling up. Safety isn’t something to take lightly—statistics show seatbelts can reduce accident casualties by half. On city roads, the penalty is 50-200 yuan and 2 points deducted, while it’s even stricter on highways. Once it became a habit, I started seeing it as a sort of talisman—it makes driving much more reassuring and saves me the stress of worrying about tickets.

[VanRemington]

I often think of seat belts as an invisible shield while driving, and the penalties are for everyone's good. According to regulations, drivers not wearing seat belts are directly fined 200 yuan and deducted 2 points, while passengers not wearing them are also fined 50-100 yuan. If caught on the highway, the penalties are even more severe. It's not just about the fine; it's about raising safety awareness. Accident data shows that the risk of death is several times higher without a seat belt—such a small action can truly save lives. I've seen too many cases where people regretted not taking it seriously. Developing the habit while driving is being responsible to yourself and your family.

[BradyLynn]

From an economic perspective, not wearing a seatbelt results in a fine of 200 yuan plus 2 penalty points. While the monetary penalty may seem small, accumulating 12 points requires retaking the driver's license test, wasting time and costing an additional few hundred yuan. Insurance companies may also increase premiums by over 20% due to poor records. In the end, it's better to spend that money on fuel or maintenance. Tracking my expenses, I found that annual traffic fines can add up to a month's worth of food expenses—hardly worth the momentary convenience. Buckling up costs nothing and avoids all these risks, making it a highly cost-effective choice.