New York City Signs New Seat Belt Law: Who Will It Affect And When Will It Go Into Force

Now all passengers while driving in a private car or taxi will be required to use a seat belt. The law comes into force on November 1. The details were shared by the edition Daily News.

The new law on Tuesday, August 11, was signed by State Governor Andrew Cuomo. According to the document, every New Yorker over the age of 16 is required to use a seat belt, regardless of which part of the car he sits in. Violators face a $ 50 fine.

Previously, only children (under 16) had to wear seat belts while sitting in the back seat. Now New York has joined the list of 20 states, where this measure applies to all passengers, regardless of their age. “Seat belts save lives, and by doing this we are further strengthening our laws and helping to prevent unnecessary tragedies,” Cuomo said.

In 1984, New York became the first state in the country to require drivers and all passengers in the front seats to wear seat belts. This law was passed during the reign of the current governor's father, Mario Cuomo.

At that time, about 16% of people were wearing seat belts. By 2008, 24 years later, the compliance rate was 89%, according to the governor's office.

The new law comes into force on November 1, 2020. It applies to everyone who drives a car, including rented vehicles such as taxis, Uber and Lyft.

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“Injuries you can sustain without wearing a seat belt can be fatal, and that's a fact, whether you're sitting in the front or rear of a car,” said sponsor Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland) ... "By signing this bill, we will help prevent tragedies and save lives in New York."

According to AAA Nort east, if a person is not wearing a seat belt, this increases the likelihood of death in a car accident: passengers in the back seat - twice, eight times increasing the risk of serious injury, the probability of death of a person in the front seat while in twice as high.

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In New York City over the past decade, 289 people have died and 25 people have been injured while riding in the back seat of a car because they were not wearing their seat belts.

Experts have proven that seat belts are "a proven way to make our roads safer and reduce car deaths." Assembly member Walter Mosley, D-Brooklyn, who sponsored the bill, said this. “This law will go a long way towards achieving this goal and ensuring the safety of all passengers while traveling,” he added.