Seat Belt Laws

Seat belt laws are important in making sure the seat belts are made correctly and that everyone is using them

correctly.

Seat belts have been around since the 1880s; they are placed in cars to reduce the risk of injury or death.

Since there was an increase in the amount of cars on the road in 1959, congress passed a law requiring all

automakers to comply with certain safety standards?

Today there are specific requirements for everything involving the seat belt, even down to the mechanisms and

materials that can be used to produce the seat belt.

Seat belt Laws and Why They Started

Seat belts are designed to be able to stand the forces of a high-speed car accident.

Seat belt laws require everyone to wear a seat belt.

If you’re not wearing a seat belt, then your body will move about freely in the car.

This is a problem because the body will start bumping into solid surfaces, other people in the vehicle, or ejected from

the car through an opening.

Some classic signs that a person may not have been wearing their seat belt are head trauma, chest trauma, and

a spider-web design in the windshield.

Seat Belt Laws and Children

Children also have some seat belt laws that they are required to follow in order to be a passenger in the vehicle.

Any child under three must be firmly secured into an appropriate car seat, unless they are riding in a taxi.

Children from three through twelve, or 135 centimeters, can ride in rear seats without a car seat if seat belts are not

available to stabilize the car seat; but they cannot ride in the front without an appropriate child seat.

If a child is twelve and older, or above 135 centimeters, then the child is able to ride in the front or back seats

without having sit in a child appropriate seat.

Exceptions to Seat Belt Laws

Officers are now on the lookout for anyone who does not follow the seat belt laws.

Seat belts stick out from the clothing and are easy for an officer to spot.

The only exceptions to the seat belt laws is if you work somewhere where you only travel less than fifty meters, a

medical condition that makes it impossible to wear the appropriate seat belt, riding in reverse, or if a child is

between three and twelve and your only driving a short distance with no appropriate seat available.