Fatal bus accident on the A9 near Leipzig - trial begins

How is the seatbelt requirement in coaches regulated?

The serious accident has also reignited the discussion about the seatbelt requirement in coaches. In Germany, seat belts have been compulsory in coaches since October 1, 1999. Within the EU, it has been in force since May 2006. Coaches that were registered before this date and do not have seat belts do not have to be retrofitted. This means that anyone who cannot find a seatbelt on a coach does not have to wear one. However, if they do exist, they must be used.

It is permitted to take off the seat belts for a short time. You can go to the bus toilet, get a drink or get some new reading material from the luggage compartment. Scheduled buses and school buses are exempt from the seatbelt requirement.

How is the seatbelt requirement checked on coaches?

Bus drivers are obliged to inform passengers of the seatbelt requirement at the start of the journey. However, according to the Association of Central German Bus Companies, this is difficult to enforce. Drivers do point this out at the start of the journey and after breaks, and there are signs at the seats, said association head Mario König. However, it is simply not feasible for bus drivers to carry out checks.

A spokesperson for the Dresden police also emphasized that it is more difficult to catch those who refuse to wear a seatbelt on the bus. Checks are usually carried out on sight as the bus passes by. Technical possibilities are also limited. A sensor for unbuckled seat belts, as is often installed in modern cars, would theoretically be possible, but would raise the alarm every time a passenger went to the toilet. Therefore, this technology, as in airplanes, is not practical.

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