All new cars and trucks will be required to have rear seat belt reminder systems starting in late 2027, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Monday.
This step aims to increase seat belt use and reduce deaths and injuries resulting from traffic accidents, which have increased in recent years.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the new rule will also upgrade existing seat belt warnings for drivers and front-seat passengers. The regulation comes more than a decade after Congress directed the agency in 2012 to consider enforcing rear seat belt systems.
NHTSA estimates the rule will save about 50 lives and prevent more than 500 injuries annually.
Seat belt warning systems, currently required for the driver’s seat only, use visual and audible alerts to encourage seat belt use. The updated regulations will extend warnings to front passengers and enhance their duration.
Additionally, the rule mandates a rear seatbelt reminder, with a visual warning upon vehicle startup that lasts for at least 60 seconds to inform drivers of the rear seatbelt status. An audio and visual alert will be activated if the rear seat belts are loosened while driving.
The new rule requires an indefinite visual warning and a two-stage audible warning for the driver’s seat until the seat belt is fastened, depending in part on the speed of the vehicle. Front seat belt warnings must be in place by September 2026, while rear seat warnings will be mandatory for new cars from September 2027.
NHTSA notes that seat belts reduce the risk of death for rear-seat passengers by 55% in cars and 74% in SUVs. Nearly half of traffic deaths involve passengers who were not wearing seat belts.
The European Union has been requiring rear seat belt reminder systems since 2019.