Regulations, 2014

L.N. 392 of 2014

TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDINANCE

(CAP. 65)

AUTHORITY FOR TRANSPORT IN MALTA ACT

(CAP. 499)

Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seatbelts) (Amendment)

Regulations, 2014

IN exercise of the powers conferred by article 54 of the Traffic

Regulation Ordinance and by article 43 of the Authority for Transport

in Malta Act, the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure has, after

consultation with the Authority for Transport in Malta, made the

following regulations:-

(1) The title of these regulations is the Motor Vehicles

(Wearing of Seatbelts) (Amendment) Regulations, 2014 and these

regulations shall be read and construed as one with the Motor

Vehicles (Wearing of Seatbelts) Regulations, hereinafter referred to as

"the principal regulations".

(2) The purpose of these regulations is to implement the

provisions of Commission Implementing Directive 2014/37/EU of 27

February 2014 amending Council Directive 91/671/EEC relating to

the compulsory use of safety belts and child restraint systems in

Regulation 2 of the principal regulations shall be amended

as follows

(a) the definition "child restraint" shall be substituted by

the following new definition

" "child restraint system" means a device

combining a seat, fixed to the structure of the vehicle by

appropriate means which, until the 9th May, 2008, has at

least one anchorage point located on the seat structure

carrying the United Nations ‘E’ mark or BS ‘kitemark’,

and which, after the 9th May, 2008 conforms with UN-

ECE Regulation 44/03 or Directive 77/541/EEC or

UNECE Regulation 129 or any other subsequent

adaptation thereto and which shall be installed in

accordance with fitting information (such as those found in

the instruction manual, leaflet or electronic publication)

provided by the manufacturer of the child restraint system

declaring in what manner and in which vehicle types the

system may be safely used.

Child-restraint systems are subdivided into two

classes -

(a) an integral class comprising a combination of

straps or flexible components with a securing buckle,

adjusting device, attachments and, in some cases, a

supplementary chair and/or impact shield, capable of being

anchored by means of its own integral strap or straps; and

(b) a non-integral class that may comprise a

partial restraint which, when used in conjunction with an

adult belt which passes around the body of the child or

restrains the device in which the child is placed, forms a

complete child-restraint system;"; and

(b) immediately after the definition "route bus" there

shall be added the following new definition

" "safety system” means any seat belt or child-

restraint system which is designed to diminish the risk of

injury to its wearer, in the event of collision or of abrupt

vehicle deceleration, by limiting the mobility of the

wearer’s body;".

Regulation 6 of the principal regulations shall be Amends

regulation 6 of

substituted by the following new regulation

the principal

regulations.

" Restraint of

(1) A young child shall not travel

young children.

in any M1, N1, N2 or N3 motor vehicle that is

not fitted with a safety system.

(2) A young child travelling in any M1,

N1, N2 or N3 motor vehicle that is fitted with a

safety system shall always be carried in a child

restraint system that is suitable to the child’s

weight as set out in the First Schedule.

(3) A young child shall not be

transported in a rearward-facing child restraint

system fitted to a front seat protected by an

airbag unless such airbag is deactivated.

(4) No adult seat belt shall be applied to

a young child.".

4. Regulation 7 of the principal regulations shall be amended

as follows

(a)

sub-regulations (4) and (5) thereof shall be re-

numbered as sub-regulations (5) and (6) respectively; and

(b) immediately after sub-regulation (3) thereof, there

shall be added the following new sub-regulation

"(4) A child who is less than 150cm in height

travelling in any M1, N1, N2 or N3 motor vehicle that is

fitted with a safety system shall be restrained by an integral

or non-integral child restraint system for the child’s weight

as provided for in the First Schedule.".

€0.27