New regulations mandate seat belt warnings for all vehicle seats to enhance safety and reduce injuries
Indianapolis: Big news for car safety! In the next couple of years, all vehicles will need to have seat belt reminders for every seat, not just the driver’s. This change is all about keeping everyone safe on the road.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) just wrapped up a new rule that says every seat in a car must have a warning system. This includes the back seats, which often get overlooked. The goal? To cut down on injuries and deaths from people not buckling up.
Did you know that every year, around 822 people die because backseat passengers don’t wear their seat belts? That’s a lot! The NHTSA believes this new rule could save over 500 injuries and 50 lives annually. Pretty impressive, right?
This rule updates an old safety standard from 1968, which only required seat belts for the driver. It’s about time we made sure everyone in the car is reminded to buckle up.
So, when can we expect these changes? Well, front seat warnings need to be in place by September 1, 2026, and rear seat warnings by September 1, 2027. But car makers can start implementing these changes sooner if they want.
What types of vehicles will this apply to? It covers passenger cars, trucks, most buses (except school buses), and multi-purpose vehicles that weigh 10,000 pounds or less. So, pretty much all the common vehicles you see on the road.
Now, what will these warnings look and sound like? When you start the car, there will be both visual and audio alerts to let you know if the rear seat belts are being used. The visual alert will last at least 60 seconds, and the audio will go for at least 30 seconds. If no one is sitting in the back, then no warnings are needed.
Most cars made in 2022 or later already have passenger seat belt warnings, but this new rule makes it a requirement. And for the driver’s seat, the warnings will be longer and more noticeable. If the driver isn’t buckled up and the car is moving, the alerts will kick in.
Oh, and just so you know, Indiana has a primary seat belt law. This means if you’re not wearing a seat belt, you can get pulled over and ticketed. So, it’s a good idea to buckle up!
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: New seat belt warning requirement and what Indiana’s seatbelt law is
