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Make sure you let all the passengers in your car know: “Click it or ticket!” Virginia law now requires all adults to wear a seat belt—no matter where they’re sitting in the car. That means even backseat passengers need to buckle up before hitting the road.

Like in so many other industries, we have research to thank for this development. Science has consistently shown that seatbelts save lives. In fact, wearing a seat belt in the front seat reduces your risk of fatal injury by 45%, and nearly half of all passenger vehicle fatalities in 2023 involved someone who wasn’t buckled up according to research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Virginia’s updated law is informed by recent data, like reports from the NHTSA, but also decades of other research. Seatbelts were revolutionized in the 1960s after Swedish engineer Nils Bohlin invented the three-point safety belt while working at Volvo. A study of this safety belt found that its use resulted in zero fatalities in accidents under 60 mph. The three-point belt’s safety and simplicity are why it’s still the industry standard today. In 1966, the United States passed a federal law allowing the Department of Transportation to establish national motor vehicle safety standards, like requiring seatbelts in new cars.

This legislation laid the groundwork for decades of life-saving research and innovation, including efforts right here in Virginia. Scientists at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the University of Virginia’s Center for Applied Biomechanics are at the forefront of studying crash dynamics, innovative safety features and exploring specific car models’ limits.

It turns out that not wearing a seatbelt can put others in the car in danger—research from the University of Virginia showed that there is an increased risk of drivers dying in a severe frontal car accident if their backseat passengers aren’t buckled up.

A survey showed national seatbelt use at 91.2% for 2024, but CDC researchers have identified some concerning gaps. In one study, people's self-reported seat belt habits tended to be higher than actual observations. Another CDC report showed that adults in rural regions are less likely to wear seat belts and are more likely to die in vehicle crashes. These findings approach car safety as a public health issue, showing how environment and perception play a role in safety and why laws, like Virginia’s new rear seat belt requirement, matter.

So buckle up and know that while you’re traveling, science is constantly working behind the scenes to pave a smoother and safer way to drive. Interested in some more seatbelt science? Learn more and bust some myths on the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles site.