As of November 1, no matter whether you are seated in the front or the back of the car if you are 16 and older, you need to buckle up. New York became the first state in the Union to enact a mandatory seat belt law 36 years ago. Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed legislation that requires seatbelts for all passengers riding anywhere in an automobile. The current law only requires seatbelts for passengers riding in the front.
Governor Cuomo is quoted as saying the new mandate will "create a safer and stronger Empire State for all." The Governor's Traffic Safety Committee reports that 30% of highway deaths in New York involved passengers that did not wear a seat belt. Additionally, 47% of passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2017 not harnessed in a seat belt.
The NYS DMB reports that passengers not complying with the new mandate will face a fine of $50.
