US to Require Alarm If Rear-Seat Car Passengers Aren’t Buckled Up

The new rule takes effect in September 2027 and could prevent 50 deaths a year, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Starting Sept. 1, 2027, an alarm will sound for up to one minute if rear-seat passengers aren't using their seat belts. Georgii Dolgykh/Photos.com

The federal government will soon require alarms that go off if car passengers in rear seats are not wearing seat belts, according to a new rule issued on Dec. 16.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, has finalized the updated motor vehicle requirements for seat belts, which the agency said could save 50 lives per year.