The U.S. Transportation Department announced on Monday that all new cars and trucks will be required to have rear seat belt reminder systems starting in late 2027.
The move aims to increase seat belt use and reduce traffic deaths and injuries, which have been rising in recent years.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the new rule will also upgrade current seat belt warnings for drivers and front seat passengers. This regulation comes over a decade after Congress directed the agency in 2012 to consider mandating rear seat belt systems.
NHTSA estimates the rule will save about 50 lives and prevent over 500 injuries annually.
Seat belt warning systems, currently required only for the driver’s seat, 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 rear seat belt reminders, with a visual warning at vehicle start-up lasting at least 60 seconds to inform drivers of rear seat belt status. An audio-visual alert will activate if rear seat belts are unfastened while driving.
The new rule requires an indefinite visual warning and a two-phase audible warning for the driver’s seat until the seat belt is buckled, based partly on vehicle speed. Front seat belt warnings must be in place by September 2026, while rear seat warnings will be mandatory for new vehicles starting September 2027.
NHTSA noted that seat belts reduce fatality risks for rear seat occupants by 55% in cars and 74% in SUVs. About half of all crash fatalities involve occupants who were not wearing seat belts.
The European Union has required rear seat belt reminder systems since 2019.
