Seat belt warnings will soon be mandatory for rear seats: Here’s what to know

Within the next two years, the “ding” of the seat belt reminder will be mandatory for all seats in a vehicle, no longer just the driver’s seat.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finalized a rule Monday that will require seat belt use warnings for rear and passenger seats and advance warnings for driver seats.

The rule is meant to prevent vehicle-related injuries and deaths. According to the rule, an average of 822 deaths occur each year and more than 11,000 people are injured due to not wearing a seat belt. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a news release that implementation of the rule will prevent more than 500 injuries and 50 deaths each year.

The rule amends Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, which went into effect in 1968. Although automakers have been installing seat belts before, that’s when the federal government made seat belts mandatory for driver seats.

“Although seat belt use has improved over the past few decades, we can still do more to ensure that everyone wears a seat belt. These new requirements will help increase seat belt use by increasing reminders to vehicle occupants to buckle up, especially for rear seat passengers,” Adam Raviv, chief counsel for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said in a news release.

When does the new rule go into effect?

According to the rule, front seat belt warning systems must comply with the new rule by Sept. 1, 2026, and rear seat belt warning systems by Sept. 1, 2027. Vehicle manufacturers can comply with the new rule before these dates.

Which vehicles does the new rule apply to?

The rule applies to passenger cars, trucks, most buses (except school buses), and multi-purpose passenger vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less.

Passenger seat belt warning will be mandatory

Although most vehicles manufactured in 2022 or later have a passenger seat belt warning, the new rule requires it.

What improvements will be required to the driver seat belt warning?

Although changes have been made to the long-used visual and audible seat belt warnings for the driver’s seat, the new rule requires them to be longer. The visual warning will be required when the vehicle’s ignition switch is on, someone is sitting in the seat and a seat belt is not being used. The audio warning will have two stages. The first must last at least 30 seconds. According to the rule, the second stage must be activated when someone is sitting in the seat, a seat belt is not being used and the vehicle speed is at least 6.2 mph.