NHTSA Says New Seat Belt Rules Will Save 50 Lives Annually
The Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has finalized a new rule that requires seat belt warnings for rear-seat passengers.
While the feature has been standard on a number of automaker’s cars for several years now, NHTSA estimates say the requirement will prevent some 500 injuries and save some 50 lives annually. In addition to the new rule, NHTSA has also mandated “enhanced” warnings for front driver and passenger seats.
The previous rule, Federal Motor Vehicle Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, required only a seat belt warning for the driver’s seats.
NHTSA’s new requirements, on the other hand, cover not only more seats but also more types of vehicles, including passenger cars, trucks, and buses. School buses are excluded, and so are passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 10,000 pounds.
Manufacturers have until September 1, 2026, to meet the NHTSA’s new front seatbelt warning requirements, and until the same date in 2027 to meet the new rear seat belt warning requirements.
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Chase is an automotive journalist with years of experience in the industry. He writes for outlets like Edmunds and AutoGuide, among many others. When not writing, Chase is in front of the camera over at The Overrun, his YouTube channel run alongside his friend and co-host Jobe Teehan. If he's not writing reviews of the latest in cars or producing industry coverage, Chase is at home in the driver's seat of his own (usually German) sports cars.
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