The automotive industry is making swift improvements in seat belt reminder systems, responding directly to new ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Since the IIHS began evaluating these reminders in 2022, automakers have taken quick action, enhancing safety features across a wide range of models.
In 2022, only 17% of vehicles tested by IIHS earned a good rating for their seat belt reminders. A staggering 65% were rated marginal or poor, meaning their reminders were either too short, too quiet, or not persistent enough to encourage seat belt use.
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Fast forward to 2024, and the numbers have flipped. Sixty-two percent of models tested this year have earned a good rating, with only 24% falling into the marginal or poor categories. According to IIHS President David Harkey, this turnaround is due to simple software changes that significantly boost vehicle safety.
Several automakers have updated their vehicles’ reminder systems to meet or exceed IIHS standards. Eighteen models, which previously fell short, now boast good ratings, including:
These improvements show that automakers are committed to enhancing safety through better reminder systems.
Failure to wear seat belts remains a leading cause of death in vehicle crashes. While 92% of front-seat occupants and 82% of rear-seat passengers wore seat belts in 2022, many of those killed in crashes were unbelted. In fact, half of all front-seat occupants and 25% of rear-seat occupants killed in crashes weren’t wearing seat belts.
Better seat belt reminders could reduce these fatalities. An IIHS study found that persistent audible reminders lasting 90 seconds increased seat belt use by about 30%, potentially saving 1,600 lives each year.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed stricter federal standards in 2023, but these rules haven’t moved forward. Current federal regulations require only a minimal audible reminder of 4-8 seconds when the driver’s seat belt is unbuckled, far below the IIHS standard.
To receive a good rating from IIHS, a vehicle must have an audible reminder lasting at least 90 seconds if any occupied front seat remains unbuckled. Additionally, there must be a persistent audible alert if a rear seat occupant unbuckles, lasting at least 30 seconds. Some manufacturers are going beyond these standards, equipping vehicles with reminders that don’t stop until every occupant is buckled in.
The improvements made by automakers are more than just software tweaks. They represent a fundamental shift in how manufacturers are approaching vehicle safety, with a focus on preventing fatalities before they happen. As David Kidd, the IIHS senior research scientist, explains, simple changes to the seat belt reminder system could save thousands of lives.
The progress made in just two years is promising, but there’s more work to be done. Seat belt reminders, especially in rear seats, need to become the norm across all vehicles. Automakers have shown that change can happen quickly when safety is a priority.
With nearly 1,600 lives at stake, could persistent seat belt reminders become the standard in all vehicles? If the rapid progress continues, it’s a question the industry will soon have to answer.
