
IIHS sees drastic seatbelt reminder improvement made by several OEMs
By onAnnouncements | Legal
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says automakers have moved quickly to install louder, more persistent seatbelt reminders since it began rating the features in 2022.
During the first year, 17% of new models that were tested earned a “good” rating while 65% were rated “marginal” or “poor.”
“Marginal” means the reminders aren’t long enough or loud enough while “poor” is given to those that provide a brief reminder for the driver seat only, according to IIHS. “Acceptable” means requirements are met for the front-row seating positions but not for the second row.
By the 2024 model year, 62% of vehicles tested so far have been rated “good” while 24% rated “marginal” or “poor.”
“Automakers can boost a vehicle’s performance in this test with just some small software changes,” said IIHS President David Harkey, in a news release. “These easy tweaks can have a big impact on safety.”
Eighteen vehicles with seatbelt reminders that previously fell short recently earned “good” ratings from IIHS for their latest models.
IIHS says the improved vehicles are the Acura MDX, Ford Escape, Ford Expedition, Ford Maverick, Honda CR-V, Honda HR-V, Honda Odyssey, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Nissan Altima, Subaru Crosstrek, Toyota Corolla hatchback, Toyota Corolla sedan, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Tacoma, and Volvo XC40.
Eight models were previously rated “poor,” seven more were rated “marginal,” and three others were rated “acceptable.”
Failure to buckle up continues to play a large role in crash deaths. However, in 2022, half of the front seat occupants and a quarter of those in the back of vehicles who were killed in crashes were wearing their seatbelts. The government’s 2022 on-road observational survey of seatbelt use found that nearly 92% of front-seat occupants and 82% of rear-seat occupants were belted, IIHS said.
Many future crash victims could be saved with better seatbelt reminders, IIHS research has found. While a small number of people still adamantly refuse to buckle up, many part-time seatbelt users neglect or forget to use them on short trips.
An IIHS study found that a persistent reminder was much more effective at getting part-time users to buckle up compared to a minimal reminder and just as effective as a speed-limiting interlock that kept the vehicle speed under 15 mph unless the driver was buckled in.
“The math is pretty simple,” said David Kidd, IIHS senior research scientist, said in the release.
Kidd led the research and development of IIHS’ seatbelt reminder rating program.
“We found that an audible reminder that lasts at least 90 seconds increased belt use by around 30%. That means we could save almost 1,600 lives a year if every vehicle on the road was equipped with a good-rated system.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed tougher federal standards in 2023, but IIHS says the proposed rule lacks several important components, such as an adequate volume requirement. The proposal hasn’t been finalized.
For now, regulations specify only that seatbelt reminders must include an audible signal that lasts for four to eight seconds and a visual alert that lasts at least 60 seconds whenever the driver’s seatbelt is unbuckled. IIHS says such short reminders are easy to ignore.
In contrast, for a “good” rating from IIHS, vehicles have to have an audible reminder that lasts at least 90 seconds if any of the occupied front seatbelts remain unbuckled and meet volume standards as well as other conditions.
A visual and persistent audible reminder lasting at least 30 seconds that alerts the driver when a belted rear occupant unbuckles is also required.
Some automakers have equipped vehicles with audible alerts that don’t stop until all the occupants are buckled in, no matter how long it takes, or adding reminders for third-row occupants, according to IIHS.
“This rapid progress represents a big win,” Harkey said, in the release. “Making sure everybody uses their seatbelt on every trip is a simple way to save lives.”
Images
Featured image and ratings chart provided by IIHS