Latvian Bus Drivers Struggle to Enforce Seat Belt Rules Among Passengers

Public transport drivers, on the other hand, said that when they brake and see law enforcement officers, they can often hear the click of seat belts being fastened.

"You know, it's very difficult to control. We have a sign asking people to fasten their seat belts. Many people do fasten their seat belts, but when the bus starts moving, they gradually unfasten them. Someone has to be there to monitor it," said Edgars Jurčus, a bus driver for AS "Cata."

Filming was prohibited on the next intercity trip. However, law enforcement officers admitted that the situation was worse on this particular bus.

"Those travelling from Estonia - one bus was quite sad. Most of the passengers there were not wearing seat belts. Of course, when we pointed this out, things slowly began to change," said Agris Spandegs, chief inspector of the Prevention Group of the Western Vidzeme District of the Vidzeme Regional Administration of the State Police.

When we stopped the next passenger bus, the scene was the same: some passengers only fastened their seat belts when they noticed the police.

"They fasten their seat belts at first, but then they go to the toilet or make coffee and don't fasten them again," said Kārlis Rūdītis, a Lux Express bus driver.

Bus driver Sandris Misiņš admitted that it is difficult to convince passengers:

"At first, when you remind them, yes, they fasten their seatbelts, but if you leave them alone, they unfasten them. It's like fighting a windmill. Until people are punished, they won't understand. That's the reality."

Police inspector Spandegs pointed out that passengers often believe that nothing bad will happen to them:

"The justification is - nothing will happen to me. But real life is completely different. Accidents happen, there are casualties and fatalities."

The Road Traffic Law stipulates that passengers who do not wear seat belts will receive a warning or a fine of up to €15. Drivers who transport passengers who are not wearing seat belts will receive a fine of €30 to €70.