Bucharest police action: 160 drivers fined for no seatbelts in 24 hours

In Bucharest on March 11, 2026, traffic police officers stopped 160 drivers who were operating vehicles without fastened seatbelts within a single day. These actions were part of a wide-ranging control and prevention campaign aimed at raising awareness about the dangers resulting from disregarding safety regulations. The detained drivers were given an unusual offer: instead of just receiving a fine, they could use a frontal collision simulator. This device allowed them to experience the G-forces and effects of hitting an obstacle at low speed, illustrating the real role of seatbelts in protecting lives. The obligation to use seatbelts in Poland was introduced in stages – they began to be installed serially in cars in 1958, while they became mandatory in Polish law in the 1980s. According to police statistics, proper fastening of seatbelts significantly reduces the risk of fatal injuries in road accidents, yet a large group of road users in Central and Eastern Europe still ignores this requirement.

Romanian traffic police precisely explained the rules of responsibility for not wearing seatbelts, emphasizing that passengers not using this safety device are personally responsible for the committed offense. In such a case, it is the passenger, not the driver, who receives a criminal fine. At the same time, the driver in Romania is not completely exempt from supervising the people they transport. If they allow a situation where passengers are riding without fastened seatbelts, they face a penalty of 2 penalty points and a fine, the amount of which in March 2026 ranged from 330 to 495 lei. 160 (kierowców) — drivers stopped in Bucharest in one day

In Poland, regulations concerning seatbelts have also been tightened, and the fine tariff provides for stricter penalties than in previous years. Currently, for driving without fastened seatbelts, a driver in Poland receives a fine of 100 zł and 5 penalty points, which debunks the belief circulating among some motorists about a symbolic fine of 50 zł. The legal situation becomes even more severe in the case of other violations, which police often uncover during routine seatbelt checks. According to data from March 2026, penalties for more serious traffic offenses or documentation deficiencies can reach thousands of złoty. Penalties for no seatbelt in Romania: Passenger responsibility: Lack of precise guidelines → Fine imposed directly on the passenger; Driver penalty for passengers: Warning → 2 penalty points and up to 495 lei fine

prawda: Passengers in Romania are personally responsible for not fastening seatbelts and it is they who receive the fine, not the driver, unless the latter failed to fulfill the duty of informing them about the necessity of their use. (Romanian Police)

Sanctions for no seatbelt (March 2026): 1. Poland (driver) — 100 zł + 5 pts; 2. Romania (driver for passengers) — 330-495 lei + 2 pts; 3. Romania (passenger) — criminal fine