All passengers travelling in vehicles on expressways must wear seat belts from September 20.
The new rule follows Parliament’s approval of the relevant regulations.
The requirement applies to every passenger in the vehicle, not only the driver.
The new rule takes effect on September 20
An Extraordinary Gazette issued on June 17, 2026 sets the latest requirement.
It ends the grace period for installing seat belts in vehicle seats that did not have them when manufacturers made the vehicles.
The original rule came into effect through Gazette No. 2455/29 dated September 25, 2025.
It amended the Motor Traffic (Expressways) Regulations No. 1717/14 of August 3, 2011.
The change made seat belt use compulsory on expressways. Authorities introduced the rule to help reduce road accidents and deaths.
Grace period extended several times
Authorities first gave vehicle owners a three-month grace period to install the required seat belts.
That period ended on December 25, 2025.
However, authorities later extended the deadline following public requests.
The extension ran from March 20, 2026, to June 19, 2026.
The matter also came up at a ministerial consultative committee meeting chaired by Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake.
With the grace period now over, the seat belt rule will apply to all passengers travelling on expressways from September 20.
For expressway users, the practical requirement is simple. Everyone in the vehicle must wear a seat belt before and during the journey on an expressway.
Passenger wearing a seatbelt
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Last modified: September 16, 2026
