The U.S. Transportation is issuing new safety regulations, including a seatbelt alarm, starting in late 2017.
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This upgrade comes more than a decade after Congress first instructed the agency in 2012 to consider requiring rear seat belt reminder systems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that the new regulations will save approximately 50 lives and prevent about 500 injuries each year. Manufacturers are required to implement the upgraded front seat belt reminders by September 2026, and the rear seat systems by September 2027.
Seatbelts significantly decrease the risk of fatalities, reducing deaths by 55 percent for rear-seat passengers in cars and by 74 percent in SUVs, according to the Associated Press. Rear-seat reminders have been mandatory in Europe since 2019. The need for these measures has become more evident as traffic deaths increased following the pandemic, prompting policymakers to take action.
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According to Reuters, the European Union has already established required vehicle reminder systems since 2019. The new regulations bring American standards in line with international safety trends.
