Seat Belts
Seat belt laws are divided into two categories: primary and secondary. Primary seat belt laws allow law enforcement officers to ticket a driver or passenger for not wearing a seat belt, without any other traffic offense taking place. Secondary seat belt laws state that law enforcement officers may issue a ticket for not wearing a seat belt only when there is another citable traffic infraction.
- 35 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have primary seat belt laws for front seat occupants.
- 14 states have secondary laws for adult front seat occupants.
- 41 states, D.C., and 2 territories have laws enforcing rear seat belt use. Of these:
- 18 states, D.C. and 2 territories have primary enforcement for all occupants.
- 5 states have primary enforcement for youth.
- 11 states include rear seats as secondary enforcement. Three of these are states with primary seat belt laws for front seat occupants. Six are states with secondary laws for adult front seat occupants.
- 10 states do not have laws enforcing rear seat belt use.
- Of states with primary front seat belt use laws, 11 states and the Virgin Islands do not include rear seats
- Of states with secondary front seat belt use laws, 9 states do not include rear seats.
- New Hampshire has enacted neither a primary nor a secondary seat belt law for adults in any seat, although the state does have a primary child passenger safety law that covers all drivers and passengers under 18.
Specific laws vary greatly from state to state, depending on the age of the rider and in what seat he or she is sitting. This page covers seat belt laws for adults and young adults only. For requirements for infants, toddlers, and children, see GHSA's Child Passenger Safety Laws.
NOTE: GHSA does not compile any additional data on adult seat belt laws other than what is presented here. For more information, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office.
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
Last updated in May 2024. Laws last reviewed by State Highway Safety Offices in March 2024.
New Hampshire has enacted neither a primary nor a secondary seat belt law for adults, although the state does have a primary child passenger safety law that covers all drivers and passengers under 18.
n/a
n/a
Secondary
9 and over
All
Secondary; Primary for occupants under 18
All drivers; passengers 18 and over
Front Under 18: All (primary enforcement)
Secondary; Primary for occupants under 18
18 and over
All
Secondary
18 and over
Front
Secondary; Primary for occupants ages 8-17
8 and over
8-17 yrs: All (primary enforcement)
Secondary
8 and over
8-14 yrs: All (primary enforcement) 15 and over: Front
Primary
All ages. Children younger than eight years of age are required to ride in a child restraint (car seat or booster seat).
All
Secondary
6 and over
All
Secondary
18 and over
Front
All
Secondary
6 and over
Secondary; Primary for riders ages 8 through 15
8 and over
8-15 yrs: All (primary enforcement) 16 and over: Front
Secondary
13 and over
All
Secondary
7 and over (primary law for drivers under 18)
All
Secondary
16 and over (primary law for under 18)
Front
8 and over
8-15 yrs: All 8 and over: Front
Secondary
Primary
8 and over
All
Primary
8 and over
8-17 yrs: Front
Primary
Over 16 or over 4'9"
All
Primary
All riders
All seats
Primary
Drivers and passengers over 16
All
Primary
7 and under who are over 57" 8 and over
All
Primary
16 and over
Front
Primary
8 and over
All
Primary
8 and over
All
Primary
9 and over or 57" and over
Data not available
All
Primary
All riders
Primary
13 and over
Front
Primary
Over 6
All
Primary; Secondary for rear seat occupants
16 and over
All
Primary
All riders
All
18 and over
All
Primary
Primary; Secondary for rear seat occupants
7 and under and more than 57 inches tall 8 and over
All
Primary
7 and over
All
Primary
7 and younger and over 57 inches 8 and over
All
Primary
16 and over
Front
Primary; Secondary for rear seat occupants
16 and over
Under 16 yrs: All 16 yrs and over: Front (secondary enforcement in rear seat)
Primary
All riders
All
Primary
13 and over
All
Primary
7 and under and more than 57 inches 8 and over
All
Primary
14 and over
14-17 yrs: All 18 and over: Front (other seating positions are secondary enforcement)
Primary
All riders
Front
All
Primary
16 and over
Primary
16 and over
All
Primary
8 and over
All
Primary
All riders
All
Primary
8 and older
8-17 yrs: All 18 and over: Front
6 and over
6-17 yrs: All 6 and over: Front
Primary
Primary
16 and over
All
Primary (civil penalty)
16 and over
All
Primary
8 and over
All
Primary
16 and over
All
Primary
15 and over
Front
Primary
16 and over
All
Primary
15 and over
All
Uber and GHSA Team Up to Promote Seat Belt Use at Start of Summer Travel Season
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2018
CONTACT: Kara Macek, kmacek@ghsa.org
202-789-0942
Uber will use its app to remind riders to buckle up
Countermeasures That Work, 10th Edition
Countermeasures That Work: A Highway Safety Countermeasure Guide for State Highway Safety Offices is a basic reference to assist State Highway Safety Offices in selecting effective, evidence-based countermeasures.
Kentucky "Buckle Up in Your Truck 225" Race & Campaign
Seat Belt Laws: New Hampshire
Type of Law
None for >18 yrs old
Seat Belts
Seat belts are the oldest form of occupant protection, with Volvo patenting the first rudimentary seat belt in 1889. However, it wasn't until 1968 that the federal government required seat belts to be installed in all new passenger cars.
Seat Belt Laws: Wyoming
Type of Law
Secondary
Seat Belt Laws: Virginia
Type of Law
Secondary; Primary for occupants under 18
Seat Belt Laws: Vermont
Type of Law
Secondary; Primary for occupants under 18