Seat belts on buses
We recommend that you always wear your seat belt when travelling on a bus equipped with seat belts. You can be fined up to NOK 1,500 if you fail to wear a seat belt on a bus where it is compulsory to do so.
Seat belts on buses save lives
Wearing a seat belt on a bus keeps you in place in your seat, so you do not put yourself or other people at risk in the event of an accident.
FAQs about seat belts on buses
Why don’t all buses have seat belts?
There are five classes of buses in Norway and the EU. Skyss complies with the Norwegian motor vehicle regulations (køyretøyforskrifta), which set out which buses must be equipped with seat belts, and on which buses it is compulsory to wear one.
- Bus class I comprises buses with space for numerous standing passengers, designed for urban areas where passengers get on and off frequently. These buses are often referred to as city buses. They may not exceed 70 km/h, and there is no requirement for them to have seat belts. If a bus in this class is equipped with seat belts, it is not compulsory to use them. However, we recommend that you always wear a seat belt if one is fitted.
- Bus class II comprises buses that mainly have seated passengers, but which may also carry a few standing passengers. These buses are required to have seat belts, and it is compulsory to use them. Buses in this class may not exceed 80 km/h.
- Bus class III comprises buses with no standing passengers. These buses are required to have seat belts, and it is compulsory to use them. Buses in this class may not exceed 100 km/h.
- Bus class A comprises minibuses with provisions for several standing passengers, and there is no requirement for them to have seat belts. If seat belts are fitted, it is compulsory to use them. Buses in this class may not travel faster than 80 km/h.
- Bus class B comprises minibuses with only seated passengers. They are required to have seat belts, and it is compulsory to use them. Buses in this class may not exceed 80 km/h.
In new bus contracts, Skyss requires the bus operating company to have seat belts fitted in all of their buses. This includes buses in bus class I, which are not required to have seat belts according to the motor vehicle regulations. In Vestland, all Skyss buses therefore have seat belts, with a few exceptions.
The exceptions relate to a few cases where reserve buses are used, and where old buses continue to be used in new contracts. This applies to twelve city buses in bus class I in Odda and on Stord.
Why must I wear a seat belt if I am seated, whereas standing passengers are not secured?
Seat belt usage on buses is a complex issue involves various organisations. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration is responsible for the motor vehicle regulations (køyretøyforskrifta), while the Ministry of Transport is responsiblle for the regulations on seatbelt use. Further questions about those regulations should be addressed to them.
Why do buses operate without seat belts and with standing passengers on motorways?
Buses in the various bus classes must respect the speed restrictions established by the motor vehicle regulations (køyretøyforskrifta), regardless of the speed limit of the road. The regulations set the following speed restrictions:
- Bus class I – may not exceed 70 km/h
- Bus class II – may not exceed 80 km/h
- Bus class III – may not exceed 100 km/h
- Bus class A – may not exceed 80 km/h
- Bus class B – may not exceed 80 km/h
What should I do if my seat belt on the bus is broken?
Bus operating companies are responsible for maintaining seat belts. If you nevertheless find that a seat belt is broken, we advise you to raise this with the bus driver. You can also notify Skyss; remember to include which route you were travelling on, at what time and from which bus stop. It will help us if you also provide the vehicle code of the bus. This number can be found on the outside of the bus, both on the left-hand side of the front door and on the back of the bus.
Why do some buses have three-point seat belts, while others have two-point belts?
In its contracts with bus operating companies, Skyss establishes seat belt requirements that are in line with the Bus Nordic standard. This means that we require buses to be equipped with seat belts, but that bus operating companies are free to choose between three-point and two-point belts. The vast majority of new buses operated on behalf of Skyss are equipped with three-point belts.
What should I do if the seat belt is too short for me?
Buses operated on behalf of Skyss adhere to the national motor vehicle regulations (køyretøyforskrifta), which do not define the length of seat belts. As stated above, in its contracts with bus operating companies, Skyss establishes seat belt requirements that are in line with the Bus Nordic standard. That limits our ability to establish special requirements for seat belts. However, Skyss encourages bus operating companies to use the longest available seat belts in new buses.
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration is responsible for checking whether you are wearing a seat belt, including on buses. If it is impossible for you to wear a seat belt on a bus where it is compulsory to do so, the inspectors have procedures for dealing with this. If you have any further questions about this issue, you should address them to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.
Why are there no seat belts on Bergen Light Rail?
Trams, trains and light rail vehicles do not have seat belts. If you have any further questions about this, you should address them to the Norwegian Railway Authority, which is responsible for the rules governing Bergen Light Rail.
Learn more about seat belts on buses on the Norwegian Public Roads Administration website