What to know about the latest law intended to keep your family members safe in vehicles
Beginning July 1, 2025 in Virginia, all passengers ages 18 and older riding in the back seat must wear a seat belt when a vehicle is in motion on a public highway. This is according to a new law signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. It’s referred to as the Christopher King Seat Belt Law, in memory of a recent high school graduate who lost his life in a car crash in 2020. He typically wore a seat belt – but on that trip, he didn’t.
Buckling up in the back seat
It was already Virginia law that passengers under 18 use seat belts in the front and back seats, but until now adults were only required to wear them in the front.
“Research shows that children whose parents set a good example by using their seat belts are more likely to buckle up themselves,” said Corri Miller-Hobbs, RN, Safe Kids Virginia program coordinator. “So, while the new law doesn’t specifically change anything for children, all signs point to it positively impacting safety for people of all ages.”
No matter which seat you’re in, wearing a seat belt protects against being ejected from the vehicle in the event of a crash, which is nearly always fatal. Seat belts also reduce the risk of serious injuries from being propelled forward within the vehicle.
The stats on seat belt safety
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
- Buckling up is the most effective way to protect yourself in a crash.
- Seat belts saved nearly 15,000 lives in 2017.
- Children’s use of safety restraints in vehicles drops by 40% when their parents don’t use their own seat belts.
- Nearly 60% of back seat passengers killed in crashes in 2023 were not using seat belts.
- Most vehicle crashes happen within 25 miles of home, so it’s important to buckle up on every ride – no matter how short.
Seat belt safety for kids
Kids should ride in a child safety seat or booster until they’re a minimum of 4’9” tall, and in the back seat until they’re at least 13 years old. Once they outgrow the height and weight requirements for their forward-facing car seat, a booster will lift them up until they’re big enough for the vehicle’s seat belt to fit properly without it. Rushing to get rid of the booster could put your child at risk of more severe injury in the event of a crash.
Ensure seat belt fit by having your child sit with their back and bottom against the seat, knees bent comfortably over the edge of the seat and feet flat on the floor. The lap belt should sit low across the bony part of the hips, not across the abdomen. The shoulder belt should come across the shoulder and chest, without touching the neck or face.
Children may not pass the fit test in every vehicle and every seating position at the same time. Check each seating position and continue using a booster seat as needed until the seat belt fits appropriately.
Remind teens who may be driving on their own or riding with friends to buckle up every time. Skipping the seat belt is not a risk worth taking.