By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Transportation Department said Monday it will require rear seat reminder systems to boost seat belt use starting in late 2027 in all new cars and trucks in an bid to reduce traffic crash deaths and injuries that have been rising in recent years.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said its final rule will also upgrade and expand current warnings for the driver and others in the front seats. The final regulation comes more than a decade after Congress in 2012 directed the agency to consider mandating the systems for rear passengers. NHTSA estimates the new rule will eventually prevent more than 500 injuries and save about 50 lives yearly.
The final regulations come more than a decade after Congress in 2012 directed the agency to consider mandating the systems for rear passengers.
Seat belt warning systems, currently required only for the driver’s seat, use visual and audible alerts to encourage seat belt use. The new rules also increase the duration of current warnings and also extend to the front passenger seat.
The proposal came after U.S. traffic deaths jumped dramatically following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new rule requires an indefinite visual warning and a two-phase audible warning based in part on vehicle speed remaining active until the driver’s seat belt is buckled. It also extends enhanced driver’s seat belt warning requirements to the front passenger seat.
The rule requires a visual warning upon vehicle start-up to inform the driver of the status of the rear seat belts, which should last at least 60 seconds. The rule also requires an audio-visual signal whenever rear seat belts are unfastened during driving.
Manufacturers must meet front seat belt warning requirements in September 2026 and rear seat warnings will be required on new vehicles by September 2027.
NHTSA said seat belts reduce the risk of fatality for rear seat occupants by 55% for cars and 74% for sport utility vehicles. About half of all vehicle occupants killed in crashes are not wearing seat belts.
The European Union has required rear seat reminder systems since 2019.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
