FMCSA to require commercial truck passengers to wear seat belts

Whereas in the past when seat belts were only required for truck drivers, now drivers and carriers will be held accountable for passengers using seat belts as well, according to a revision to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.    A new final rule from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will require passengers riding in large commercial trucks to use seat belts whenever the vehicles are operated on public roads in interstate commerce, according to a statement from the administration.
   The final rule, which goes in to effect Aug. 8, 2016, is a revision to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Under the regulation, motor carriers and truck drivers will be held accountable for ensuring that commercial truck passengers use seat belts, as opposed to previous rules that only required drivers to do so.
   FMCSA noted that in 2014, 37 passengers traveling unrestrained in the cab of a large truck were killed in roadway incident, according to recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Of those, about one-third were ejected from the truck cab during the crash.
   “Seat belts save lives – period,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said of the new rule. “Whether you’re a driver or passenger, in a personal vehicle or large truck, the simple act of wearing a safety belt significantly reduces the risk of fatality in a crash.”
   “Using a seat belt is one of the safest, easiest, and smartest choices drivers and passengers can make before starting out on any road trip,” added FMCSA Acting Administrator Scott Darling. “This rule further protects large truck occupants and will undoubtedly save more lives.”