Seat Belt Laws in Virginia

Virginia has a simple rule for drivers and passengers seated in the front seat: you must wear a seat belt. There are a number of exceptions for mail carriers, taxi drivers and passengers, and people who have been told by a doctor that they should not wear a seat belt for medical reasons. However, by and large, if you are in the front seat and not wearing a seat belt, you are in violation of Virginia law.

Adults seated in the back seat are not required to wear any sort of seat belt. However, if you’ve ever seen a video of a crash test, you know that you are putting you health and safety in serious jeopardy by taking advantage of this freedom.

Children seated in the back seat are a different story. Children must be either belted in or placed in a child safety seat. Children under the age of eight must be seated in a child safety seat. The law places the responsibility with the driver of the vehicle to ensure that the child is safely secured in his or her seat.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children from ages 3 to 14. An average of four children in that age range are killed every single day in an auto accident. Many of these deaths can be prevented by taking the proper precautions to keep your children safe.