New Safety Rule: Rear-Seat Belt Warnings Mandatory in US Vehicles by 2027

U.S. Mandates Rear-Seat Belt Warnings for New Vehicles Starting 2027

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has finalized a new rule requiring all new passenger vehicles in the United States to be equipped with rear-seat belt warnings starting September 2027. This regulation aims to enhance seat belt usage and is projected to save 50 lives and prevent 500 injuries annually.

The rule applies to a wide range of vehicles, including passenger cars, trucks, buses (excluding school buses), and vehicles weighing up to 10,000 pounds. Previously, seat belt warnings were only mandatory for the driver’s seat. The new regulation extends this requirement to outboard front-seat passengers and introduces warnings for rear seats.

Implementation of the enhanced warnings will be phased, with driver’s seat improvements beginning September 1, 2026, followed by mandatory rear-seat warnings from September 2027. Front-center seats are exempt from the new requirements due to cost considerations.

Recent data from 2022 highlights the importance of this measure, showing front seat belt usage at nearly 92%, while rear seat usage lags at about 82%. Alarmingly, half of all crash fatalities involved unbelted passengers, underscoring the critical need for increased seat belt use.

This regulation follows NHTSA’s recent updates to its five-star auto safety ratings, which now incorporate driver assistance technologies and pedestrian protection measures. Safety advocates are urging the Department of Transportation to finalize additional safety rules, particularly focusing on automatic emergency braking for heavy trucks and impaired driving prevention technology.

As the automotive industry prepares to implement these changes, concerns have been raised about potential regulatory shifts under the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. The impact of these new safety measures on vehicle design and manufacturing processes remains to be seen as automakers work to meet the 2027 deadline.