Pennsylvania seat belt law enforcement

Pennsylvania's seat belt law is designed to save lives. It is a fact. Taking a few minutes to buckle your seat belt can reduce the severity of an injury and even save your life if you are involved in an car accident.

In comparison to most of the developed world, the United States has the lowest rate of seat belt usage - only 75% of Americans use their seat belts. It has been estimated that nearly 33% of accident fatalities could be prevented if all occupants in a car used a seat belt.

Our law firm recommends that all drivers and passengers buckle up each and every time they are in a car. Individual states have passed mandatory seat belt laws requiring their use. Seat belt enforcements can be either primary or secondary offenses. In Pennsylvania, not wearing a seat belt is a secondary offense.

• Primary Offense: not wearing a seat belt is cause enough for a driver to be pulled over and ticketed.
• Secondary Offense: a driver must be pulled over for another offense; however, if not wearing a seatbelt, a driver can be ticketed for this offense as well.

Dr. Jeffrey Runge, a former emergency room physician now the Administrator for the NHTSA, is pushing for Congress to give states incentives to pass bills that would make not wearing a seat belt a primary offense. This means that a driver or passenger can be ticketed for not wearing a seat belt. The ticket would not have to accompany another violation, such as a speeding ticket.

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