Senate Bill S1535C

                                BILL NUMBER:S1535

TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to mandatory
seat belt use

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To improve the safety of motor vehicle occupants.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

The bill amends subdivision 3 of § 1229-c of the Vehicle and Traffic
Law to require the use of seat belts by all passengers sixteen years
of age or older riding in any seating position in a motor vehicle.

JUSTIFICATION:

The institution of a mandatory seat belt law for all front seat
passengers has saved lives. According to the New York State Department
of Motor Vehicles, in 1984, the year the law was enacted,
approximately 16% of individuals wore seat belts. By 2008, 24 years
after the law was enacted, the compliance rate was up to 89%. The
Governor's Traffic Safety Committee has indicated that thirty percent
of highway deaths in New York State occurred to occupants who were
              

unrestrained. This is a greater factor than alcohol or excessive
speed.

Recognizing the serious injuries that may be caused to other
passengers or the driver of a motor vehicle by an unrestrained
occupant of the vehicle in the event of a collision, 19 states have
adopted legislation requiring all rear seat occupants to wear safety
restraints.

Extensive research has shown that unbelted rear seat passengers can
kill and injure others. A sixty pound unbelted passenger traveling in
the rear seat would exert a force of approximately 2,700 pounds, or
more than one ton, into the driver's seat in a head-on crash at 30
miles per hour.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in
fatal crashes, 76% of vehicle occupants who were totally ejected from
the vehicle were killed. In 2007, only once percent of the occupants
reported to' have been using restraints were totally ejected from the
vehicle, compared with 31% of the unrestrained occupants. As a result,
safety experts believe that the use of a rear seat belt could prevent
over two thirds of fatalities and serious injuries resulting from
motor vehicle crashes. Therefore, this legislation seeks to reduce
automobile accident fatalities and casualties by requiring all
occupants of a motor vehicle to buckle up.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2013-14: S.389/A.6657 - Referred to transportation

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:


None known.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become law.

                                BILL NUMBER:S1535A

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation
to mandatory seat belt use

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:  To improve the safety of motor vehicle
occupants.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:  The bill amends subdivision 3 of
1229-c of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to require the use of seat belts
by all passengers sixteen years of age - or older riding, in any seating
position in a motor vehicle.

JUSTIFICATION:  The institution of a mandatory seat belt law for all
front seat passengers has saved lives. According to the New York State
Department of Motor Vehicles, in 1984, the year the law was enacted,
approximately 16% of individuals wore seat belts. By 2008, 24 years
after the law was enacted, the compliance rate was up to 89%. The Gover-
nor's Traffic Safety Committee has indicated that thirty percent of
highway deaths in New York State occurred to occupants who were unres-
trained. This is a greater factor than alcohol or excessive speed.

Recognizing the serious injuries that may be caused to other passengers
or the driver of a motor vehicle by an unrestrained occupant of the
vehicle in the event of a collision, 19 states have adopted legislation
requiring all rear seat occupants to wear safety restraints.
              

Extensive research has shown that unbelted rear seat passengers can kill
and injure others. A sixty pound unbelted passenger traveling in the
rear seat would exert a force of approximately 2,700 pounds, or more
than one ton, into the driver's seat in a head-on crash at 30 miles per
hour.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in fatal
crashes, 76% of vehicle occupants who were totally ejected from the
vehicle were killed. In 2007, only once percent of the occupants
reported to have been using restraints were totally ejected from the
vehicle, compared with 31% of the unrestrained occupants. As a result,
safety experts believe that the use of a rear seat belt could prevent
over two thirds of fatalities and serious injuries resulting from motor
vehicle crashes. Therefore, this legislation seeks to reduce automobile
accident fatalities and casualties by requiring all occupants of a motor
vehicle to buckle up.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  2011-12 (A.1306/S1337) 2009-10
(A.225-A/S.1169-B) 3rd Reading Ca1.187 2007-08 (A.104/S.174) 2005-06
(A.2157-A/S.3582-A) 2003-04 (A.903/5.118) 2002 (A.11063-A/S.6302-A)

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None known

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act shall take effect on the first of November
next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.

                                BILL NUMBER:S1535B

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in
relation to mandatory seat belt use

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To improve the safety of motor
vehicle occupants.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: The bill amends subdivision 3, 5 & 9
of § 1229-c of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to require the use of seat
belts by all passengers sixteen years of age - or older riding, in any
seating position in a motor vehicle.

JUSTIFICATION: The institution of a mandatory seat belt law for all
front seat passengers has saved lives. According to the New York State
Department of Motor. Vehicles, in 1984, the year the law was enacted,
approximately 16% of individuals wore seat belts. By 2008, 24 years
after the law was enacted, the compliance rate was up to 83%. The
Governor's Traffic Safety Committee has indicated that thirty percent
of highway deaths in New York State occurred to occupants who were
unrestrained. This is a greater factor than alcohol or excessive
speed.

Recognizing the serious injuries that may be caused to other
passengers or the driver of a motor vehicle by an unrestrained
occupant of the vehicle in the event of a collision, 28 states have
              

adopted legislation requiring all rear seat occupants to wear safety
restraints.

Extensive research has shown that unbelted rear seat passengers can
kill and injure others. A sixty pound unbelted passenger traveling in
the rear seat would exert a force of approximately 2,700 pounds, or
more than one ton, into the driver's seat in a head-on crash at 30
miles per hour.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in
fatal crashes, 76% of vehicle occupants who were totally ejected from
the vehicle were killed. In 2007, only once percent of the occupants
reported to have been using restraints were totally ejected from the
vehicle, compared with 31% of the unrestrained occupants. As a result,
safety experts believe that the use of a rear seat belt could prevent
over two thirds of fatalities and serious injuries resulting from
motor vehicle crashes. Therefore, this legislation seeks to reduce
automobile accident fatalities and casualties by requiring all
occupants of a motor vehicle to buckle up.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2014 (S.389/A.2449-A) Referred to
Transportation 2013 (S.389/A.2449-A)Advanced to third reading
2012(S.1337/A.1306)Advanced to third reading 2011
(S.1337/A.1306)Advanced to third reading

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None known

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect on the first of November
next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.