Starting in September 2027, U.S. automakers’ models must include rear seat belt fastening warnings to match what’s been required for front seats for years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will also require enhanced front-row belt reminders starting in September 2026.

The amended federal seat belt rule applies to passenger cars, trucks, buses except for school buses, and “multipurpose” passenger vehicles with gross weight of up to 10,000 pounds.

The transportation department division says the new requirements, when fully in effect, will prevent more than 500 injuries and about 50 fatalities per year. Its data show that about half of passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2022 crashes weren’t wearing seat belts upon collision.

“Wearing a seat belt is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent injury and death in a vehicle crash,” said its chief counsel, Adam Raviv. “While seat belt use has improved for decades, there’s still more we can do to make sure everyone buckles up. These new requirements will help to increase seat belt use, especially for rear seat passengers ...” 

Back-seat belt fastening lags that by front-seat occupants at about 82% versus 92% in 2022, the agency said. 

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