You are reading

New State Law to Require Seatbelts for Backseat Passengers Ages 16 and Older

Unsplash

Aug. 12, 2020 By Christian Murray

All passengers in the back seat of a motor vehicle are soon going to be required by state law to buckle up.

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law legislation that will require all passengers riding in the back seat to wear a seat belt come Nov. 1. Currently, passengers 16 years and older are not required to buckle up if they are traveling in the back seat.

“We’ve known for decades that seat belts save lives and with this measure we are further strengthening our laws and helping to prevent needless tragedies,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said.

New York State law currently requires all front seat passengers to wear seat belts—no matter their age. In the back, the law only requires children under the age of 16 to wear seat belts, with those under the age of four requiring safety seats.

In 1984, under Governor Mario Cuomo, New York became the first state to pass a mandatory seat belt law and in the same year, according to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, approximately 16 percent of individuals wore seat belts. By 2008, 24 years after the law was enacted, the compliance rate was up to 89 percent.

Advocates for the change say that it will increase passenger safety.

“The injuries you can sustain from not wearing a seat belt can be deadly, and that’s a fact whether you sit in the front or the back of a vehicle. With this bill signed into law, we will help prevent tragedies and save lives in New York,” said State Sen. David Carlucci.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Queens Distance Runners mark 10 years with milestone marathon at Flushing Meadows

Apr. 24, 2025 By Paulina Albarracin

Runners filled the paths of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park on March 30 for the Queens Marathon, joined by the QDR Half Marathon and 10K events. Since its inception, the Queens Marathon has done more than test endurance—it has celebrated the borough’s diverse communities and encouraged participants to support local businesses and organizations. This year marked a special milestone as the flagship event of Queens Distance Runners (QDR) celebrated its 10th anniversary, reaffirming its place as Queens’ premier race experience and igniting excitement across the scenic park grounds.

“We don’t know who we can trust”: Advocates push for New York For All Act to shield immigrants from ICE enforcement

Apr. 24, 2025 By Jimmy Robles

As deportations keep growing in the communities of New York, the fight to protect the immigrant community from immigration enforcement agencies such as ICE is urging. Even residents with no criminal history or legal status in the United States have become at risk of deportation, causing them to live with constant fear of being separated from their families.

Dirt bike thief strikes twice in Queens, targeting sellers in Fresh Meadows and Corona: NYPD

Police from the 107th Precinct in Fresh Meadows are looking for a suspect who set up a meeting with a 24-year-old man at a BP gas station at 73-15 Parson Blvd. at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15, to buy the victim’s dirt bike.

The two men rode together for a test drive, and when they returned to the Fresh Meadows gas station, the perpetrator pushed the victim off his dirt bike and rode off in an unknown direction, police said Wednesday. The man who was robbed was not injured during the encounter.