NHTSA Seeks Comment on Seat Belt Use Warning System in Rear Seats
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issues an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on a requirement for a seat belt use warning system for rear seats. In particular, the agency seeks comment on a requirement for high-occupancy vehicles, including 15-passenger vans and school buses.
Nicole Schlosser・Former Executive Editor
September 27, 2019
NHTSA has issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on a requirement for a seat belt use warning system for rear seats. File photo
2 min to read
NHTSA has issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on a requirement for a seat belt use warning system for rear seats. File photo
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on a requirement for a seat belt use warning system for rear seats.
The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act of 2012 (MAP-21) directs NHTSA to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, ‘‘Occupant crash protection,’’ which would require the system, according to the docket. The standard requires a seat belt warning system for the driver’s seat, but not other seating positions.
The systems are designed to encourage seat belt use by reminding occupants who haven’t buckled up to do so and/or by notifying the driver that an occupant hasn’t fastened their seat belt, so that the driver can ask the occupant to put on their seat belt.
Ad Loading...
NHTSA began a rulemaking proceeding in 2013 and is now seeking public comment on a variety of issues related to the requirement, such as potential requirements for such systems, which vehicles they should apply to, their effectiveness, consumer acceptance, and the costs and benefits.
The docket states that, in particular, NHTSA is seeking comment regarding “whether a rear seat belt warning should be required for high- occupancy vehicles such as 15-passenger vans, large sport utility vehicles, school buses, and large trucks and vans with a GVWR less than or equal to 4,536 kg. (10,000 lb.)”
The deadline for submitting comments is Nov. 26. Comments may be submitted online here, or by mail or courier. For more information, read the docket in full here.
After being suspended over due process concerns, Miami-Dade schools and law enforcement are restarting the AI-powered stop-arm camera program with new oversight.
From national bills on seat belts and driver oversight to driver awareness campaigns referencing “Finn’s Rule” and ongoing transportation funding debates in Alaska, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
A Williamsburg community is mourning after a child was fatally struck by a private yeshiva bus, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements at the high-traffic crossing.
The new data shows 99.99% incident-free trips and strong on-time performance, reinforcing how dependable transportation, especially for vulnerable student populations, can help districts combat chronic absenteeism.
Driver shortages, safety expectations, and staffing limits define student transportation in 2026. New survey data shows how fleet leaders are responding.
The federal agency's report asks NHTSA to require all new school buses to be equipped with vehicle-integrated alcohol detection systems and passenger lap-shoulder belts.
Student transportation teams are being asked to do more with less, facing driver shortages, rising costs, and increasing safety expectations. This report uncovers how fleets are adapting, where technology is making the biggest impact, and why student ridership tracking is emerging as a top priority. Download the report to explore the key trends shaping 2026 and what they mean for your operation.
A Carroll County accident claimed the lives of two students and injured over a dozen others on a March 27 field trip for eighth graders at Clarksville-Montgomery County. A preliminary report adds new information to the story.
From driver shortage solutions in Tennessee and rural connectivity debates in Utah to new safety laws in Wisconsin and ongoing electric bus mandate discussions in New York and Connecticut, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Waymo’s self-driving vehicles are under fire again after repeated school bus passing violations, raising questions about safety, remote operators, and regulation.
