The number of seat belt users on passenger buses in Latvia has increased by 33%

The number of passengers using seat belts on domestic bus routes in Latvia has increased by 33 percentage points compared to the previous year, reaching 84%, according to a survey conducted by Lux Express.

“We are very positively surprised by this year’s survey results, especially when compared to last year. We see that passengers have become more conscious: the number of those who always fasten their seat belts during the trip has increased from 37% last year to 60% this year. This is a significant improvement, and a similar positive trend can be observed among those who, on the contrary, never used seat belts — their number has decreased from 13% in 2024 to 3% this year,” says Aldis Ķibēns, Member of the Board of Lux Express Latvia.

The survey results show that women remain the most conscientious bus passengers: 66% of women always use seat belts on buses, compared to 32% of men.
Passengers listed the main reasons for using seat belts on buses as the belief that it is safer to travel this way — 59% compared to 46% last year. Meanwhile, the main reasons for not using seat belts were a sense of sufficient safety when traveling by bus, as well as discomfort. However, these figures have also improved compared to last year, according to the survey results.

“We are pleased that the years of work invested by us and our drivers in educating not only passengers during trips but also society — by organizing various activities each November as part of Safe Driving Month — are paying off,” says Ķibēns.

He adds that this positive effect is clearly reflected in the survey response indicating that passengers’ habits are influenced by bus drivers reminding them to fasten their seat belts during the trip. This was mentioned as a motivating factor by 30% of respondents — an increase of 22 percentage points compared to the previous year.

Despite passengers indicating they feel safe on Lux Express buses and the significant improvements in seat belt usage habits, Lux Express Latvia plans to begin testing additional safety tools on several buses in Latvia by the end of the year, with the aim of introducing them across the entire fleet in the future.
“Following the example of our Estonian colleagues, who have already implemented several changes to further improve passenger safety, we also plan to start testing various safety tools on our buses. Our goal is to help drivers avoid human errors caused by inattention as much as possible,” says the board member of Lux Express Latvia.

He adds that all Lux Express Latvia buses used for domestic passenger transport — Irizar i6s Efficient vehicles — are already among the newest and most modern on the market and are therefore equipped with the latest generation safety systems. “Despite this, and considering that passenger safety is our highest priority, we plan to further enhance safety solutions, such as on-board cameras that monitor and alert drivers,” he says, noting that such systems would be a valuable aid for drivers.

One of the potential solutions includes dual-lens on-board cameras — one facing the road and the other facing the driver — which help detect potential risks in time. The company is also considering other safety solutions supported by artificial intelligence.

In addition, Lux Express provides all bus drivers with a hands-free system, as sometimes it is necessary to answer urgent calls during the trip, for example when contacting the technical department or when the customer service team provides important information. “However, traditional phone use while driving remains strictly prohibited, and we have zero tolerance for violations of this rule,” Ķibēns emphasizes.

Throughout November, Lux Express carries out various activities to educate passengers and provide them, for example, with reflectors. The company also cooperates with NGOs to improve public awareness of passenger safety.

The survey was conducted by Lux Express in October and November and included 1,690 respondents.