The three-point seatbelt was patented in 1955 and issued as customary gear on 1959 Volvos. Regardless of a report from the Missouri assume tank MOST Coverage Initiative stories that rear-seat belt utilization cuts an individual’s threat of demise in a crash by half, solely 78% of again seat passengers put on them. That lags nicely behind the 90% determine for drivers and entrance seat passengers, a quantity that has been boosted by necessary seat belt legal guidelines. A 2018 survey by the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) pegged seat belt use amongst Individuals at 91% in entrance and 72% in again, and located that many riders mistakenly assume the rear seat is safer throughout crashes. Two out of 5 respondents mentioned they do not buckle up in again as a result of there is no legislation requiring it of their state. New Hampshire is the one state that does not mandate seat belt use for adults however 35 states, Washington D.C.,and 4 U.S. territories have major enforcement for all passengers. Meaning police can cease a automobile solely for a seatbelt violation.
In 14 states together with Kansas, Maryland, and New Jersey, seatbelt guidelines depend on secondary enforcement; an officer can solely subject a ticket for an unbuckled grownup if the motive force has already dedicated one other violation. Minors are coated below a separate set of legal guidelines, which additionally mandate using automotive seats for kids below a sure age or dimension. Virginia is the newest state to go a legislation requiring adults driving in again to put on seatbelts. State delegate Karen Keys-Gamarra co-sponsored the invoice and instructed Fox 5 DC, “I believe it’s going to save lives, “I imply, that is the underside line.” It grew to become state legislation on July 1, 2025.
The Virginia backseat seat belt legislation defined
Keys-Gamarra additionally identified that “Unbelievably, Virginia has the bottom seatbelt utilization within the nation” at 73% to the nationwide common of 92%.Virginia’s new backseat seat belt legislation HB2475 is nicknamed the “Christopher King Backseat Legislation” in reminiscence of a current highschool graduate who was unbelted within the again seat when he was killed in a 2020 crash. Though Virginia already had strict font seatbelt legal guidelines, the identical was not true for rear seat passengers till HB2475 went into impact, requiring grownup passengers driving within the again seat to buckle up or get a ticket. Beforehand, solely kids below 18 years of age have been required to make use of rear seatbelts in Virginia.
Virginia has chosen to implement the secondary enforcement mode for this legislation, which suggests a police officer can not pull you over until you commit one other offense falling below major enforcement. Examples of major enforcement offenses embrace rushing, failure to sign, or driving a automotive with a damaged tail mild.
If rear-seat passengers are caught unbelted, the legislation mandates a high-quality of $25 for adults and $50 for improperly secured kids. Exemptions are allowed for individuals with a documented medical situation, mail carriers delivering mail, licensed emergency responders like police or paramedics on responsibility, and anybody driving in a seat that is not geared up with a belt.
