Automakers have made significant strides in improving seat belt reminder systems since the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) began rating them in 2022, the group reported recently.
Initially, only 17 per cent of tested models earned a good rating, while 65 per cent were rated marginal or poor. Fast forward to 2024, and those numbers have flipped, with 62 per cent of new models earning a good rating and just 24 per cent rated marginal or poor.
IIHS President David Harkey attributed the rapid improvements to minor software updates that can make a big difference in safety.
“Automakers can boost a vehicle’s performance in this test with just some small software changes,” Harkey explained. “These easy tweaks can have a big impact on safety.”
Eighteen vehicles that previously received poor or marginal ratings have now improved to good, including popular models like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Ford Escape. These improvements are critical, as failure to buckle up remains a significant factor in crash deaths, IIHS noted. In 2022, while 92 per cent of front-seat occupants and 82 per cent of rear-seat occupants wore seat belts, only half of front-seat and a quarter of rear-seat crash victims who died were belted.
Research by IIHS showed that persistent seat belt reminders are effective at encouraging seat belt use, especially for part-time users. An IIHS study found that reminders lasting at least 90 seconds increased belt use by 30 per cent, potentially saving up to 1,600 lives annually.
Current U.S. federal regulations are not as stringent as IIHS standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed tougher rules in 2023, but they lacked key elements, such as adequate volume requirements, IIHS noted. Meanwhile, IIHS’s good-rated vehicles must have audible alerts lasting at least 90 seconds for unbuckled front occupants, along with reminders when rear passengers unbuckle.
“This rapid progress represents a big win,” said Harkey. “Making sure everybody uses their seat belt on every trip is a simple way to save lives.”
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