This will save lives!
Peggy Claytor
Whether you're sitting in the front seat or the back seat of a vehicle, seat belt use is now the law for all Virginians. Beginning July 1, House Bill 2475 took effect, requiring all vehicle occupants—regardless of age and where they sit—to buckle up.
The decision to buckle up isn’t just a precaution—it can be the difference between life and death.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) states that unrestrained back seat passengers face a higher risk of injury or death in the event of a crash. Their lack of restraint can also pose a danger to front seat occupants by becoming projectiles during collisions.
According to DMV’s Highway Safety Office, 67% of back seat passengers killed in crashes in 2024 were unbuckled. Unrestrained back seat passenger fatalities declined slightly from 2021 to 2023 but rose sharply in 2024—underscoring the ongoing risk for unbuckled occupants.
While the law remains a secondary enforcement law—meaning police cannot pull a driver over solely for a seat belt violation—they can issue a $25 fine to any unbuckled passenger if the vehicle is stopped for another reason. Rideshare drivers and passengers will also have to obey this new law, meaning all occupants—including those in the back seat—must wear seat belts.
