The debate over whether Monaco should make seat belt use mandatory has reignited following the adoption of the Principality’s new road safety bill…

Unlike almost every other country, wearing a seat belt remains optional in Monaco, even though the speed limit across its compact network of urban roads is 50 km/h. For some residents, this is a small but valued freedom; for others, it is an “aberration” that puts drivers and passengers at unnecessary risk, according to the Monegasque Road Safety Association.

During Thursday’s National Council session, four elected officials broke ranks with the majority to advocate for mandatory seat belt use. Speaking “in a personal capacity,” Mathilde Leclerc said that “Monaco will not be able to avoid a future debate on this subject,” adding that discussions on road safety “cannot be selective.” Nathalie Amoratti-Blanc described seat belts as “a system validated and proven effective in virtually every country in the world.” Christine Pasquier-Ciulla suggested that wearing seat belts could at least become compulsory in the evenings, when the risk of accidents linked to alcohol consumption is higher. Fellow councillor Jade Aureglia added that “even at 50 km/h, we have roads that encourage speeding, and we’re known as a country of racetracks and speed.”

Although Monaco’s population density and low speed limits might seem to mitigate risk, international research suggests otherwise. A new review published in Accident Analysis & Prevention (Hasan et al., 2025) examined 75 studies from 2001 to 2023 and concluded that seat belt use dramatically reduces fatal and serious injuries, with compliance influenced by driver demographics, road design, and enforcement policies. The research highlighted that even modest speed collisions can result in severe trauma when seat belts are not worn.

The study also found that primary enforcement laws—those allowing police to stop unbelted drivers—produce the highest compliance rates, while education campaigns and in-car technologies such as reminder alarms and interlock systems further improve behavior. Countries that combine these “3 E’s”—engineering, education, and enforcement—achieve the best outcomes.

As the Principality continues to review its road safety framework, pressure may grow to bring Monaco’s regulations in line with international standards.

(Source: Hasan et al., 2025, Accident Analysis & Prevention, DOI 10.1016/j.aap.2025.107968)

Photo by Remy Lovesy