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Roughly two-thirds of backseat passenger who die in crashes are not properly belted. Astonishingly, NHTSA has never required reminder signals that detect and respond to unbelted passengers in the backseat. This is especially egregious considering that a large number of children ride in the back seat. Advanced reminder systems would increase the number of lives saved, and NHTSA should require automakers to include rear safety belt reminders in all new vehicles. Congress recognized the life-saving potential of safety belt reminders and in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) required NHTSA to conduct a study evaluating safety belt use systems and considering strategies to further increase belt use. The deadline for the study is July 1, 2008.
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