Starting from Jan 25 next year, passengers on public transport and commercial vehicles in Hong Kong must wear seat belts while drivers must not have more than two mobile telecommunications devices in front of them while driving to further enhance road safety, the city’s transport authorities said on Monday.

All passenger seats in public and private buses, including franchised buses and student service vehicles (SSVs); rear passenger seats in private light buses and goods vehicles (GVs); and driver seats and all passenger seats of special purpose vehicles (SPVs) that are registered starting Jan 25, 2026 must be equipped with seat belts, the Transport Department said.

“From the same day, passengers occupying the seats of these vehicles (whether newly registered or not), where seat belts are fitted, will be required to wear them,” a spokesperson for the department said in a statement.

Offenders face fines of up to HK$5,000 ($643.3) and imprisonment for up to three months, while drivers who still operate a vehicle with a passenger aged under 15 seated in the rear seat of a GV or the passenger's seat of an SPV without wearing a seat belt will be fined up to HK$2,000.

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The spokesperson said existing SSVs must retrofit seat belts and safer seats on all passenger seats before Dec 31, 2028 or they will not be allowed to carry students.

The full implementation of the fitting of seat belts in SSVs help cultivate the habit of wearing seat belts from an early age, strengthening students' awareness of road safety, according to the department.

Use of mobile devices while driving

Meanwhile, drivers are required to place no more than two mobile devices - such as mobile phones, tablet computers or laptop computers - in front of them while driving.

The devices must not obstruct the driver's view of the road and traffic as well as any mirror, device or camera-monitor fitted for viewing the roads, according to the department. Violators are liable to a maximum fine of HK$2,000, the spokesman added.

He said the department will work with police, relevant departments, the Road Safety Council and public transport operators to step up public education on the legal requirements and conduct publicity works for transport trades.

The new regulations came following the passage by the Legislative Council of the Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2025, the Road Traffic (Safety Equipment) (Amendment) Regulation 2025 and the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2025.