Rules and penalties for driving without a seatbelt

The obligation to drive with a seatbelt, invented by a Swedish engineer, was introduced in Italy in 1988: initially applied only to the front seats, the requirement was later extended but only from 2006 to the rear seats as well.
This was a turning point, made easier by the decision not to patent the invention, considered rightly a democratic tool to safeguard everyone’s safety. However, even though this invention saves thousands of lives every year, there are still people who refuse to use it, endangering their own safety and risking heavy fines. In this article, we focus on this second point, discussing the penalties for driving without a seatbelt.

Driving without a seatbelt: fines and point deductions

Penalties for driving without a seatbelt are clearly set out in Article 172 of the Italian Highway Code, which applies to all passengers in a wide range of vehicles, from cars to buses, and also includes commercial vehicles.
The monetary fine ranges from €83 to €332, and in the case of repeat offenses (that is, if the same violation is committed at least twice within two years), the driver’s license can be suspended for a period ranging from 15 days to 2 months. For new drivers, driving without a seatbelt results in a 10-point deduction from the license, in addition to the same financial penalty.

Is wearing a seatbelt always mandatory?

The only individuals exempt from the obligation to wear a seatbelt are law enforcement officers, escort officers and emergency medical staff during emergency services, waste collection workers, pregnant women, and people with specific medical conditions. These last two categories must hold a valid medical certificate.
If you belong to one of these categories, or if the car you drive is a vintage vehicle manufactured before seatbelts became mandatory, you can appeal against a fine for not wearing a seatbelt.

Passengers without a seatbelt: who is responsible?

But what if one of your passengers refuses to wear a seatbelt? In this case, if you are stopped by the police, responsibility (and therefore payment of the fine) falls on the passenger. In addition to a fine ranging from €83 to €332, they will also have 5 points deducted from their license. This applies only if the passenger is an adult.
For underage passengers, however, the driver is considered responsible for their safety. Therefore, if minors do not wear a seatbelt (or an equivalent restraint system for children under 150 cm in height), whether in the front or rear seats, all fines will fall on the driver regardless of whether other adults are present in the vehicle. Remember that in the event of an accident, civil liability for damages to passengers who were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision will also fall on you.