The Sri Lanka Police have denied recent media reports suggesting that a new law has been introduced mandating seatbelt use for bus drivers. Issuing a statement, police clarified that no such new regulation has been implemented, and that the seatbelt requirement has been in effect since 2011.
According to the statement, seatbelt use by drivers of public transport and other vehicles is mandated under Gazette Extraordinary No. 1718/12, issued on August 9, 2011. The police further highlighted that some media outlets had falsely claimed a new law had been introduced and had raised concerns over potential health risks caused by prolonged seatbelt use.
The police reiterated that this is not a new legal requirement, but rather a long-standing rule being re-emphasized in light of ongoing road safety concerns. They also cited Section 169 of the Motor Traffic (Amendment) Act No. 21 of 1981, which requires that a driver must take a 30-minute break every four and a half hours of continuous driving, and receive 10 hours of rest within a 24-hour period.
The statement emphasized that the reminder regarding seatbelt use was part of a broader initiative to reduce the alarming number of fatal and non-fatal road accidents reported daily across the country.
The Police Headquarters urged drivers to comply with the existing seatbelt law and other traffic regulations in a disciplined and law-abiding manner, and appealed to media organizations to avoid spreading misleading information that could misguide the public.
