Addison Fouts

Associate Editor

Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD 2027

 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently finalized a rule requiring seat belt alarms for drivers and front seat passengers. The new rule became effective on March 4, 2025, with ongoing expansion in years to come. This is an amendment to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, or “Occupant crash protection” which required seat belt warnings for drivers seats only. FMVSS No. 208 originally went into effect in 1968 and has had major improvements since its enactment. This particular improvement will require manufacturers to install front seat belt warnings in all new vehicles by September 1, 2026, but manufacturers can begin implementing the new rule before September 1, 2026. FMVSS No. 208 will apply to cars, trucks, multipurpose vehicles and certain kinds of buses. The change comes after the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which required NHTSA to regulate rear seat belt warnings in vehicles.

One notable vehicle not included is school buses. There is no federal law in the U.S. requiring seat belts in school buses. Some key reasons include a safer design, easier access to evacuating the bus in case of an emergency, as well as economic and administrative reasons. It would be expensive to install seatbelts in old school buses or require districts to purchase new buses.

An overview of MAP-21

MAP-21 was signed into law by President Obama on July 6, 2012 and had 3 core principles:. a higher bar for commercial drivers to enter the motor vehicle industry and to operate on roads, a higher safety standard for motor carriers and drivers, and the removal of high-risk drivers and vehicles from the roadways. MAP-21 provided funding for transportation programs at over $105 billion from 2013-2014 which led to increased safety measures. While MAP-21 is no longer in effect, other bipartisan bills have been passed to determine transportation spending for the federal government. For example, The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) lasts until 2026 and authorizes up to $108 billion to support public transportation programs in the U.S.

Ongoing safety expansion regarding seat belt alarms 

In September 2027, the U.S. Transportation Department (USDOT) will require seat reminders in the backseat of new cars and trucks to reduce crash deaths. This update will alert the driver if passengers in the car do not have their seatbelts on and requires visual and audio alerts. The visual alerts will be active upon the driver starting the car for 60 seconds, as well as for the duration of the drive. Additionally, the audio warnings must last for 30 seconds. Vehicles will have the ability to determine occupancy, so if the backseat is empty, no alarms will sound.

Do seat belt alarms really save lives?

Yes. NHTSA aims to prevent 500 injuries and 50 deaths each year with this implementation. NHTSA reported a 14% increase in unrestrained passenger vehicle fatalities between 2019 and 2020. Although Americans drove less during the pandemic, it was estimated that 38,680 people died during 2020 in motor vehicle crashes. One of the leading reasons was failure to wear a seatbelt. Installing persistent seat belt warnings will decrease the number of fatalities each year due to passengers being unbuckled. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) believes seat belt warnings could save as many as 1,500 lives each year. IIHS found that alerts or warnings could increase seat belt use for those who normally stay unbuckled by 34%. In 2021 more than half of those who died in crashes were not buckled up. Implementing persistent seat belt warnings will encourage drivers and passengers to use their seat belts and save lives.

While FMVSS No. 208 expands upon seat belt alarm regulations, it is incomplete. Communities also need to be involved in making a change alongside regulations. One underlying issue is the need for behavioral change. The update should include public education campaigns, so that occupants of vehicles understand the risks associated with not wearing a seatbelt. In addition, communities could encourage companies to offer safety incentive programs. One possible example is an insurance discount for consistent seatbelt use. Similar programs are available for drivers who track their speed and overall good driving, so community implementation should not be difficult. For example, State Farm provides a “Drive Safe & Save” program that allows drivers of private passenger vehicles to save on insurance up to 30% for driving safe. You can download an app and get safe driving feedback based on how you drive.

Moreover, while the 2025 rule expansion of seat belt reminders is a good step forward, stricter regulations could tackle the issue further. One possibility is requiring seat belts and seat belt reminders in school buses. Although school buses are safe due to the seat design allowing for compartmentalization, requiring seat belts would increase safety. Compartmentalization allows an occupant to be safe in front-impact crashes because the seatback can cradle the occupant. However, the same cannot be said for side-crashes or high-speed crashes. Seat belts would keep an occupant safe, especially in scenarios where the bus rolls over. Including school buses in FMVSS No. 208 is essential for further safety and should be implemented.