The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has finalized a rule that will require all new passenger vehicles in the U.S. to sound a warning if rear-seat passengers do not buckle up, starting in September 2027.
The rule also includes enhanced warnings when front seat belts are not fastened, and it is estimated to save 50 lives per year and prevent 500 injuries when fully in effect.
The big picture: The requirement applies to passenger cars, trucks, buses – except for school buses – and multipurpose vehicles weighing up to 10,000 pounds.
- Previously, seat belt warnings were only required for the driver’s seat, but under the new rule, outboard front-seat passengers will also receive a warning if they don’t fasten their belts, except for front-center seats.
- Additionally, the rule extends the duration of audio and visual warnings for the driver’s seat, with the front-seat rules effective from September 1, 2026.
Why it matters: Rear passengers have been found to use seat belts at a lower rate than front passengers, with front belt use at just under 92% and rear use at about 82% in 2022.
- The NHTSA data shows that about half of automobile passengers who died in crashes two years ago were not wearing seat belts, emphasizing the importance of improving seat belt usage.
Flashback: This seat belt rule is the second significant regulation to come from NHTSA in the past two months, following the agency’s inclusion of driver assistance technologies and pedestrian protection in its five-star auto safety ratings in November.
