The Big Surge in 2020 Traffic Deaths Had an Uneven Toll
The rise in U.S. road deaths after Covid-19 hit was historic, but it was especially concentrated among certain groups of people, new federal data show.
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.
Laws last reviewed by SHSOs in March 2023.
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)
18 and over
All
Secondary; Primary for occupants under 18
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
Secondary
6 and over
All
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
Front
Secondary
16 and over (primary law for under 18)
Secondary
8 and over
8-15 yrs: All 8 and over: Front
Primary
8 and over
All
Primary
8 and over
8-17 yrs: Front
Primary
Over 16 or over 4'9"
All
All riders
Front
Primary
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
Primary
All riders
All
Primary
13 and over
Front
Primary
Over 6
All
Primary; Secondary for rear seat occupants
16 and over
All
All
Primary
All riders
Primary
18 and over
All
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
16 and over
Front
Primary
Primary; Secondary for rear seat occupants
16 and over
Under 16 yrs: All 16 yrs and over: Front (secondary enforcement in rear seat)
Primary
All riders
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
Primary
16 and over
All
Primary
16 and over
All
Primary
8 and over
All
Primary
All riders
All
8-17 yrs: All 18 and over: Front
Primary
8 and older
Primary
6 and over
6-17 yrs: All 6 and over: Front
Primary
16 and over
All
Primary (civil penalty)
16 and over
All
Primary
8 and over
All
16 and over
All
Primary
Primary
15 and over
Front
Primary
16 and over
All
Primary
15 and over
All
The rise in U.S. road deaths after Covid-19 hit was historic, but it was especially concentrated among certain groups of people, new federal data show.
Grim statistics released Wednesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirm what safety officials have been saying all along: 2020 was the deadliest year on the nation's roads since 2007.
“Everybody is in this, and we have to get the public to understand what is happening out there, and to really change our culture in this country,” said Pam Fischer, senior director of external engagement for the Governors Highway Safety Association.
Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies plans to begin reminding passengers to wear seat belts by pinging driver phones and sending riders messages amid a spike in U.S. traffic deaths.
Story by David Shepardson
February 8, 2022
Did you remember to buckle up? Uber is launching a new feature this week that will send app alerts to its rideshare customers at the start of a new ride, reminding them to wear a seat belt during the ride.
Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 31,720 people were killed on U.S. roadways in the first nine months of 2021, a record 12% increase from the same period last year.
Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 31,720 people were killed on U.S. roadways in the first nine months of 2021, a record 12% increase from the same period last year.
The Governors Highway Safety Association thanks and applauds the USDOT and Secretary Pete Buttigieg for the ambitious new National Roadway Safety Strategy that sets a goal of zero roadway fatalities and draws attention to the national traffic safety crisis plaguing America’s roads.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2022
CONTACT: Adam Snider, 202-580-7930
202-365-8971 (after hours)
Statement by Jonathan Adkins, Executive Director, Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)
The Governors Highway Safety Association also praised the plan, saying that "national leadership on traffic safety is essential for addressing unsafe streets, dangerous driving behaviors ... and other risks that needlessly claim lives on our roads every day."