The proposed rule seeks to expand the existing seat belt warning system by requiring visual and audible warnings not only for the driver's seat, but also for other seating positions.
The numbers are alarming: Almost 43,000 people died in 2021 on American roads. Half of these fatalities were in cars where the passengers didn't wear seat belts. The suggested regulation can be a useful way to tackle this issue. If put into action, the NHTSA‘s plan could increase the effectiveness of seat belt alarm systems. The aim is promoting a culture of safety and responsibility and encouraging individuals to buckle up for their own good.
It's essential to understand that seat belts are proven to lower the risk of death and injury. The NHTSA approximates that implementing these requirements could prevent around 300 non-fatal injuries and over 100 deaths each year. Even though seat belt usage has progressed during the last ten years, there is still room for improvement, particularly with rear-seat passengers, who consistently use seat belts less often than front-seat occupants.
Just last month, NHTSA unveiled another milestone proposal to require Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems on passenger cars. Building on that progress, the agency is expanding its vision to include heavy-duty trucks and buses - vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds. The potential impact of this expansion is enormous, with an estimated 155 lives saved and 8,814 injuries prevented annually. This technology-driven approach aims to address the significant statistics of rear-end collisions, targeting more than 19,000 incidents involving heavy-duty vehicles annually.
Source: NHTSA