Beginning in September 2027, new passenger vehicles sold in the United States will be required to alert occupants if rear-seat passengers fail to buckle their seat belts. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the new rule, which also strengthens existing requirements for front-seat seat belt warnings. This initiative aims to enhance passenger safety and reduce road fatalities.
According to the NHTSA, the regulation is expected to save 50 lives annually and prevent 500 injuries when fully implemented. The rule applies to most passenger vehicles, including cars, trucks, buses (excluding school buses), and multipurpose vehicles weighing under 10,000 pounds. While warnings for unbuckled driver seats were already mandatory, the updated rule now extends this requirement to front outboard passenger seats. However, warnings for front-center seats were excluded due to cost considerations.
U.S. Cars to Require Rear-Seat Belt Alerts by 2027 to Enhance Passenger Safety Standards
As part of the changes, drivers will also notice longer and more prominent audio and visual seat belt reminders. While the front-seat rules are set to take effect a year earlier, in September 2026, the new focus on rear-seat passengers reflects a critical need. NHTSA data shows that rear-seat belt usage lags significantly behind front-seat usage. In 2022, front-seat compliance was nearly 92%, but rear-seat usage fell to about 82%. Notably, half of all passengers killed in crashes that year were not wearing seat belts.
This seat belt mandate is the second major regulatory action from NHTSA in recent months. In November, the agency updated its five-star vehicle safety ratings to factor in new technologies, such as advanced driver assistance systems and pedestrian safety features. Both initiatives demonstrate a push toward modernizing safety standards to address new challenges on the road.
Advocacy groups are urging the Department of Transportation to move forward with additional safety measures while the current administration remains in office. High on their agenda are rules requiring automatic emergency braking systems for heavy trucks and technology to deter impaired driving. Safety advocates argue these steps are essential to saving lives and maintaining momentum for stricter safety regulations amidst shifting political priorities.
