Article 57 of the Saudi Traffic Law
المادة 57 من نظام المرور · الباب الخامس: قواعد السير على الطرق
The article requires vehicle drivers and passengers to use seat belts and child seats while traveling on roads.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب على قائدي المركبات وركابها استخدام أحزمة الأمان، والمقاعد المخصصة للأطفال، أثناء السير على الطرق.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 57 explained in plain English
This article requires the use of protective means inside the vehicle, which include:
- Seat belts: the obligation falls on both vehicle drivers and passengers, so the passenger is addressed by the rule just as the driver is.
- Child seats.
This applies while traveling on roads.
Note that the text is general in the word "passengers" and does not distinguish between a passenger in the front seat and one in the rear seats. The article also does not specify the age of children who need a child seat, the specifications of these seats, or the penalty for a violation; these are details the text does not address.
The article comes alongside Article 58, which requires drivers of motorcycles and their companions to wear a head helmet securely while driving and leaves the conditions to the Implementing Regulations, and Article 56, which prohibits overtaking school transport buses when they stop to load or unload. All of these are rules aimed at protecting lives on the road.
If a violation relating to a seat belt has been recorded against you and you want to object to it, you can consult a lawyer specializing in traffic cases.
Practical example
A family set out from Dammam on a trip to Al-Ahsa, with the father driving, his wife beside him, and their young child in the back seat. Under the article, the father and mother must use seat belts, and a child seat is used for the child while traveling on the road.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 57 of the Saudi Traffic Law
Is a seat belt mandatory for passengers?
Yes. The article requires vehicle drivers and passengers to use seat belts while traveling on roads.
Is a child seat in the car mandatory?
The article requires the use of child seats while traveling on roads; it does not specify the age of children or the seat specifications.
Does the requirement cover passengers in the rear seats?
The text is general in the word "passengers" and does not distinguish between front and rear seats.
More articles on Rules of the Road
- Article 11
The article requires the vehicle license to be in the vehicle while it travels, lets a security officer ask to see it, and bars him from retaining it.
يجب أن تكون رخصة سير المركبة موجودة بها أثناء سيرها، ولرجل الأمن حق طلب إبرازها للاطلاع عليها، وليس له حجزها.
- Article 30
The article requires a trailer, or a broken-down vehicle when it is towed, to be fitted with rear and side lights or reflectors that allow it to be seen.
يجب تزويد المقطورة ، أو المركبة المتعطلة - عند سحبها - بأنوار أو عاكسات خلفية وجانبية تسمح برؤيتها.
- Article 31
The article requires large vehicles, such as trucks, buses and public works vehicles, and animal-drawn vehicles to be fitted with lights or reflective strips at the rear and on both sides.
يجب تزويد المركبات الكبيرة، كالشاحنات والحافلات ومركبات الأشغال العامة، وتلك التي تجرها الحيوانات ؛ بأنوار إضاءة أو شرائح عاكسة توضع في المؤخرة وعلى جانبي هذه ا
- Article 33
The article requires the driver to carry a valid driving license when driving a vehicle, lets a security officer ask to see it, and bars him from retaining it.
يجب على السائق أن يحمل رخصة قيادة سارية المفعول عند قيادته للمركبة، ولرجل الأمن حق طلب إبرازها للاطلاع عليها، وليس له حجزها.
- Article 51
The article makes road signs, reflectors, and signposts attached to the law part of it, and requires drivers to comply with them and with instructions from the competent authorities in accordance with the law and its regulations.
تعد علامات الطريق و العاكسات و الشاخصات الملحقة بهذا النظام جزءا منه، ويجب على السائق التقيد بها وبالتعليمات الصادرة من الجهات المختصة، وفقا لأحكام هذا النظام و
- Article 52
The article prohibits damaging, tampering with, or moving road signs, reflectors, and signposts, and any act that reduces their importance and clarity or undermines their internationally agreed meaning.
يحظر إتلاف علامات الطريق و العاكسات و الشاخصات ، أو العبث بها، أو نقلها، أو القيام بأي تصرف يجعلها أقل أهمية ووضوحا، أو يؤدي إلى الإخلال بالمفهوم العام المتفق ع
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.