U.S. to Require Lap Belts in Rear Seat

[Tab]

WASHINGTON - All passenger vehicles sold in the United States must have shoulder and lap belts in the rear center seat by the 2008 model year under a federal rule issued Wednesday.

Three out of four new passenger cars already have the belts, but only half of pickups and sport utility vehicles do. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's new rule requires 80 percent of vehicles to have shoulder belts by the 2007 model year and 100 percent to have them by 2008.
...
Automakers support the rule, which will cost the industry between $179 million and $240 million, NHTSA said.

Vehicles have been required to have shoulder belts in rear window seats since 1989. A law passed by Congress in 2002 required NHTSA to issue a rule requiring shoulder and lap belts in the middle back seat, where kids often ride.

NHTSA Administrator Dr. Jeffrey Runge said since shoulder and lap belts can be used with booster seats, the new rule makes the rear center seat "the safest place for children," Runge said.
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/10368337.htm

[wordout]

1. sorry mam, i noticed you passengers werent wearing seat belts

show me your licence, registration, proof of insurance and national id card..

[leftofcool]

2. And the....................

bend over for the anal cavity search.

Left of cool

[Merlot]

3. Keep 'em busy...

Because we need to make the industry spend time and money on seat belts.

What we don't need its the industry spending time and money on raising fuel economy or looking for alternatives.

[Gman]

4. This is a good thing

for the kids. I don't care if adults don't buckle up in the back seat. But I think it's irresponsible to put a child in danger by not having him/her strapped into the seat.

[Jack_DeLeon]

5. Meh who cares....

it just says that the vehicles should have them. Which I think is good, as more choice is good.

It still doesnt make them mandatory to wear them while sitting in the back seat. Which is also good.

In Texas you dont need to wear your seatbelt while sitting in the back seat unless your a kid in a car seat.

[LeftyMom]

7. I don't understand that

A rear seat passenger who isn't buckled in is a projectile in an accident, endangering the life of other passengers. What the hell is the justification for allowing that?

[fshrink]

6. A full helmet for all passengers would be safer.

And even funnier. Kill anything that moves, including humans, but pamper you sorry powdered asses.

[leesa]

8. And yet they allow and encourage SUVs and big trucks which have much

higher death rates (due to rollovers)than regular cars. Funny how that works...

[Nihil]

9. Something to do with Darwin I believe ...

:evilgrin:

[siliconefreak]

10. more anti-SUV garbage

Rollovers are about 1% of all accidents. Overall, you're safer in a heavier car. It's called the law of physics. It has nothing to do with Darwinism - unless you want to say that people who drive heavier cars are wiser than those who don't.