According to foreign media reports, the U.S. Department of Transportation said on December 16 that it will require car companies to install rear seat reminder systems on all new passenger cars and trucks starting in 2027 to increase seat belt utilization and thereby reduce the rising number of traffic accident deaths and injuries in recent years.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said its final rules would also expand the current warnings for drivers and front passengers.
In 2012, the U.S. Congress instructed NHTSA to consider mandating car companies to use the rear passenger reminder system.
More than a decade later, NHTSA is finally about to issue final regulations.
NHTSA estimates that the new rules will ultimately prevent more than 500 injuries and save about 50 lives each year.
Currently, the United States only requires car companies to mandatory use of seat belt reminder systems in the driver’s seat to remind drivers to use seat belts through visual and audible alarms.
The new regulations also extend the duration of current alerts and expand the alert to the front co-driver seat.
, Photo source: Nissan, the proposal came after the sharp rise in traffic deaths in the United States after the pandemic ended.
The new rules require a visual alarm to be issued when the vehicle is started to inform the driver of the status of the rear seat belt, and the alarm should last for at least 60 seconds.
The rule also requires visual and audible signals to be sent out whenever the rear seat belt is unfastened during driving.
, Automakers must meet front seat belt alarm requirements by September 2026.
In addition, by September 2027, newly manufactured cars must be equipped with a rear seat belt alarm system.
NHTSA said seat belts can reduce the risk of death for occupants in the rear seat of a car by 55%, and in sports utility vehicles (SUVs) by 74%.
About half of the passengers killed in car accidents were not wearing seat belts.
The European Union has begun to require car companies to install rear passenger seat belt reminder systems since 2019.
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