Seat belt laws are divided into two categories: primary and secondary. Primary seat belt laws allow law enforcement officers to ticket a driver or passenger for not wearing a seat belt, without any other traffic offense taking place. Secondary seat belt laws state that law enforcement officers may issue a ticket for not wearing a seat belt only when there is another citable traffic infraction.
Specific laws vary greatly from state to state, depending on the age of the rider and in what seat he or she is sitting. This page covers seat belt laws for adults and young adults only. For requirements for infants, toddlers, and children, see GHSA's Child Passenger Safety Laws.
A PDF chart of state seat belt laws is available for download here.
NOTE: GHSA does not compile any additional data on adult seat belt laws other than what is presented here. For more information, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office.
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
New Hampshire has enacted neither a primary nor a secondary seat belt law for adults, although the state does have a primary child passenger safety law that covers all drivers and passengers under 18.
n/a
n/a
Secondary
9 and over
All
Secondary; Primary for occupants under 18
All drivers; passengers 18 and over
Front Under 18: All (primary enforcement)
Secondary; Primary for occupants under 18
18 and over
All
Secondary
18 and over
Front
Secondary; Primary for occupants ages 8-17
8 and over
8-17 yrs: All (primary enforcement)
Secondary
8 and over
8-14 yrs: All (primary enforcement) 15 and over: Front
Secondary; Primary for occupants under 18
18 and over
18 and over: Front Under 18: All
Secondary
6 and over
All
Secondary
18 and over
Front
All
Secondary
6 and over
Secondary; Primary for riders ages 8 through 15
8 and over
8-15 yrs: All (primary enforcement) 16 and over: Front
Secondary
13 and over
All
Secondary
7 and over (primary law for drivers under 18)
All
Secondary
16 and over (primary law for under 18)
Front
8 and over
8-15 yrs: All 8 and over: Front
Secondary
Primary
8 and over
All
Primary
8 and over
8-17 yrs: Front
Primary
Over 16 or over 4'9"
All
Primary
All riders
Front
Primary
Drivers and passengers over 16
All
Primary
7 and under who are over 57" 8 and over
All
Primary
16 and over
Front
Primary
8 and over
All
Primary
8 and over
All
Primary
9 and over or 57" and over
Data not available
All
Primary
All riders
Primary
13 and over
Front
Primary
Over 6
All
Primary; Secondary for rear seat occupants
16 and over
All
Primary
All riders
All
18 and over
All
Primary
Primary; Secondary for rear seat occupants
7 and under and more than 57 inches tall 8 and over
All
Primary
7 and over
All
Primary
7 and younger and over 57 inches 8 and over
All
Primary
16 and over
Front
Primary; Secondary for rear seat occupants
16 and over
Under 16 yrs: All 16 yrs and over: Front (secondary enforcement in rear seat)
Primary
18 and over
All
Primary
13 and over
All
Primary
7 and under and more than 57 inches 8 and over
All
Primary
14 and over
14-17 yrs: All 18 and over: Front (other seating positions are secondary enforcement)
Primary
All riders
Front
All
Primary
16 and over
Primary
16 and over
All
Primary
8 and over
All
Primary
All riders
All
Primary
8 and older
8-17 yrs: All 18 and over: Front
6 and over
6-17 yrs: All 6 and over: Front
Primary
Primary
16 and over
All
Primary (civil penalty)
16 and over
All
Primary
8 and over
All
Primary
16 and over
All
Primary
15 and over
Front
Primary
16 and over
All
Primary
15 and over
Front (secondary enforcement in rear seat)
In a 73-page study released last week by the Governor's Highway Safety Association, America’s Rural Roads: Beautiful and Deadly, researchers found that about 48% of U.S. traffic deaths occurred on rural roads from 2016-20 even though only about 19% of the population lives in rural areas.
"It’s a disproportionately high number of people who are killed on rural roads," explained Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).
Rural roads are beautiful, but they’re hiding a deadly secret – nearly half of all fatal crashes occur on them, even though only 19% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas.
A new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), funded by State Farm®, explores the extent of the rural road safety problem and dives into the data to determine who dies in these crashes and what risky driving behaviors are key contributors.
A new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), funded by State Farm®, explores the extent of the rural road safety problem, dives into the data to determine who dies in these crashes and what risky driving behaviors are key contributors.
With traffic fatalities on U.S. streets currently at their highest point in over a decade, a new report has found that enhanced efforts from law enforcement officials could help buck the trend.
Story by Erik Bascome
June 10, 2022
A new research study released yesterday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirms that high visibility enforcement (HVE) of traffic safety laws has a positive and measurable impact on roadway safety by reducing dangerous driving behaviors that put road users at risk.
GHSA News Release
June 8, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2022
CONTACT: Adam Snider (GHSA), 202-580-7930, 202-365-8971 (after hours)
Equitable enforcement is proven to spur positive behavior change, making U.S. roads safer
High visibility enforcement of traffic safety laws actually works. When carried out, regulations governing driving have a positive and measurable impact on safety by reducing dangerous behaviors behind the wheel that put road users at risk.
Story by Tanya Mohn
June 8, 2022
"An increase in dangerous driving — speeding, distracted driving, drug- and alcohol-impaired driving, not buckling up — during the pandemic, combined with roads designed for speed instead of safety, has wiped out a decade and a half of progress in reducing traffic crashes, injuries and deaths," said Russ Martin, senior director of policy and government relations for the Governors Highway Safety Association.
