Authorities said on Thursday they are intensifying public education before new transport regulations, which include tighter seatbelt rules, are set to take effect on January 25.

The Transport Department – in close collaboration with the police, the Road Safety Council and public transport operators – is working to ensure widespread awareness and compliance.

Starting January 25, all passengers must wear seat belts in all seats of public and private buses, in the rear seats of light buses and goods vehicles and in all seats of special purpose vehicles.

"Our ultimate goal is to cultivate a self-initiated habit and safety culture regarding seatbelt usage and attentive driving, thereby reducing traffic accidents for safety and enhancing overall road safety," Chong Kam-yan, Chief Inspector of Police (Law Revision and Projects), said.

Chong specifically reminded bus nannies working on school buses to ensure children are properly buckled up before departure.

If a seat belt becomes loose during a trip, the driver must come to a complete stop before the nanny assists the child, he added.

An Assistant Commissioner for Transport, Alex Au, pointed out that such regulations are implemented in the mainland and many other overseas places.

Au, who's in charge of technical services, added that though people may feel unaccustomed to the changes at first, such regulations can effectively reduce the risk of injury and death.

The new rules also clarify the use of in-car devices, with authorities saying that drivers are limited to using no more than two mounted mobile telecommunications devices, such as phones or tablets, provided the screen visible to the driver is no larger than 19 centimetres.

These devices must be positioned so they do not obstruct the driver’s view of the road, traffic or vehicle mirrors.

Authorities said violations of the seat belt laws may result in a fine of up to HK$5,000 and imprisonment for up to three months, while breaching the rules on in-car device use could lead to a fine of up to HK$2,000.