The U.S. Transportation Division mentioned Monday it’s going to require rear seat reminder methods to spice up seat belt use beginning in late 2027 in all new vehicles and vans in an bid to scale back visitors crash deaths and accidents which were rising lately.
The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration mentioned its last rule will even improve and develop present warnings for the motive force and others within the entrance seats. The ultimate regulation comes greater than a decade after Congress in 2012 directed the company to think about mandating the methods for rear passengers. NHTSA estimates the brand new rule will ultimately forestall greater than 500 accidents and save about 50 lives yearly.
The ultimate rules come greater than a decade after Congress in 2012 directed the company to think about mandating the methods for rear passengers.
Seat belt warning methods, presently required just for the motive force’s seat, use visible and audible alerts to encourage seat belt use. The brand new guidelines additionally enhance the period of present warnings and likewise lengthen to the entrance passenger seat.
The proposal got here after U.S. visitors deaths jumped dramatically following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The brand new rule requires an indefinite visible warning and a two-phase audible warning based mostly partly on automobile pace remaining lively till the motive force’s seat belt is buckled. It additionally extends enhanced driver’s seat belt warning necessities to the entrance passenger seat.
The rule requires a visible warning upon automobile start-up to tell the motive force of the standing of the rear seat belts, which ought to final a minimum of 60 seconds. The rule additionally requires an audio-visual sign at any time when rear seat belts are unfastened throughout driving.
Producers should meet entrance seat belt warning necessities in September 2026 and rear seat warnings might be required on new automobiles by September 2027.
NHTSA mentioned seat belts scale back the chance of fatality for rear seat occupants by 55% for vehicles and 74% for sport utility automobiles. About half of all automobile occupants killed in crashes are usually not carrying seat belts.
The European Union has required rear seat reminder methods since 2019.
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