The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is implementing a new rule requiring seat belt warnings for outboard front-seat passengers in passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses, aiming to save lives and prevent injuries.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA ) is implementing a new rule requiring seat belt warnings for outboard front-seat passengers in passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses. The rule, effective September 1, 2026, aims to save 50 lives and prevent 500 injuries annually. Previously, seat belt warnings were only mandated for the driver's seat. The new regulation extends the duration of audio and visual warnings for the driver's seat as well.
The NHTSA states that most vehicles already have warnings for outboard passenger seats, making the implementation of this rule relatively straightforward. Rear passengers, however, consistently have lower seat belt usage rates compared to front passengers, with a rate of about 82% in 2022
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