Seatbelts are the single most effective life-saving device in a vehicle. Swedish law requires all occupants to be belted — the driver is responsible for passengers under 15 years old.
Who Must Wear a Seatbelt
Every person in every seat must wear a seatbelt at all times when the vehicle is moving. There are very few exceptions — taxi drivers collecting fares and certain medical conditions with a certificate. Claiming you forgot is not a defence.
Child Safety
Children must use an approved child restraint appropriate for their size and weight until they are 135 cm tall. Rear-facing seats are recommended for children up to at least 4 years old — they provide significantly better protection in frontal collisions. An active front airbag must be deactivated if a rear-facing child seat is placed in the front passenger seat.
Seatbelt Effectiveness
In a frontal collision at 50 km/h, an unbelted occupant continues forward at full speed while the car decelerates. They will hit the dashboard or windscreen with a force equivalent to falling from a fourth-floor window. A properly worn belt reduces serious injury risk by approximately 50%.
Exam tip: The driver is legally responsible for ensuring all passengers under 15 are correctly restrained. If a child is unbelted, the driver receives the fine — not the child’s parent if they are a passenger.