New Seatbelt Law Will Alert Drivers if Rear Seat Passengers Aren’t Buckled Up
Starting soon, a new law will notify drivers if people in the back seats aren’t wearing their seatbelts. This rule, part of a larger effort by the Department of Transportation, will apply to all new cars and light trucks.
According to NHTSA’s Chief Counsel, Adam Raviv, wearing a seatbelt is one of the easiest ways to prevent injury or death during crashes, AutoBlog reports. Although seatbelt use has been improving, there’s still a long way to go. The new law aims to increase seatbelt use, especially for those sitting in the back.
The original seatbelt rule, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, has been updated to improve safety for all passengers. In addition to rear-seat occupants, those in the front seats will also get more warnings about wearing their seatbelts.
As Raviv explained:
Wearing a seat belt is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent injury and death in a vehicle crash. While seat belt use has improved for decades, there’s still more we can do to make sure everyone buckles up. These new requirements will help to increase seat belt use, especially for rear seat passengers, by enhancing reminders for vehicle occupants to buckle up.
Source: AutoBlog
Data from NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System shows that nearly half of people who died in crashes in 2022 weren’t wearing seatbelts. About 92% of people in the front seats use seatbelts, but only 82% of those in the rear do. This new rule could prevent over 500 injuries and save 50 lives each year.
Some vehicles already have the technology needed to enforce this rule. Sensors detect if someone is sitting in a seat and can send a visual or sound alert to remind drivers to check that everyone is buckled up. The technology also helps address the issue of pets or young kids being left in hot cars.
The NHTSA is also pushing other safety features like automatic emergency braking systems, which must be in all new cars by 2029. Along with these changes, the NHTSA has updated its 5-Star Safety Rating system to reflect new driver-assist technology and pedestrian safety.
The new seatbelt alert rules will take effect on September 1, 2026, for front-seat passengers and on September 1, 2027, for rear-seat passengers.
It’s unfortunate that laws are needed to remind people to wear seatbelts, considering how much they help during a crash. But, as Raviv pointed out, seatbelts really are one of the easiest ways to survive a crash.
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