
Buckle Up NY, It’s the Law! Car Accident Lawyers
Not wearing your seat belt in the state of New York became a primary offense as of November 1st, 2020. The law requires that all drivers, all front seat passengers, and all back seat passengers 16 years of age or older wear a seat belt or use a child restraint device, including passengers of ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft. Prior to this legislation, passengers aged 16 and older were only required to wear a seat belt in the front passenger seat next to the driver.
The legislation that was signed into law is S.4336/A.6163.
Drivers and passengers 18 or older will be charged with a seat belt violation, ticketed and fined $50 if they – or any passenger in the car – are not properly strapped in.
The law was sponsored by Senator David Carlucci, who recently went on record saying “The simple fact is that seat belts save lives and prevent tragedies. It does not matter your age or where you sit in the vehicle. We want to raise awareness about the new law, and make sure people buckle up”.
This NY law requires the use of safety belts for all drivers and passengers 16 and over in all motorized vehicles, except for bus passengers and those in emergency vehicles.
The Importance of Wearing a Seat Belt
Seat belts save lives, but only if worn correctly every time you are in a motor vehicle. In a crash, your seat belt keeps you:- From being ejected from the vehicle.
- From being thrown against the window, windshield, other passengers or the steering wheel.
- Twice as likely to be killed.
- Eight times more likely to be seriously injured.
- Two times more likely to kill a front seat occupant by becoming a human projectile.