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Since July 1, drivers in Virginia have confronted new duties behind the wheel. It is not sufficient for entrance seat passengers to put on seat belts. Now, anybody unbuckled within the again seat can even lead to penalties.
This variation marks a turning level within the state’s site visitors rules. Lawmakers have determined to develop the seat belt requirement to all car occupants. The purpose is evident: to scale back the variety of street deaths.
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Seat belt, necessary for everybody
With this new regulation, the motive force will likely be fined $25 for every passenger not sporting a seat belt. It does not matter if it is the entrance or again seat. The accountability falls completely on the particular person driving the car.
The measure was promoted by Delegate Karen Keys-Gamarra from Fairfax County. The regulation is taken into account secondary enforcement, so the wonderful will solely be imposed if the car is stopped for one more violation, reminiscent of rushing.
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Virginia, which has required seat belt use in entrance seats since 1988, is now taking one other step. Again then, federal stress was decisive, because the state risked shedding funds if it did not comply.
Worrying information that justify the measure
The figures make it clear: in 2024, 35% of street deaths in Virginia had been individuals who weren’t sporting seat belts. Street security stays an unsolved subject in lots of areas of the nation. With this measure, Virginia joins the 34 states and Washington, D.C. the place seat belt use in again seats was already necessary.
Solely 15 states nonetheless preserve guidelines that require it solely within the entrance seat. New Hampshire stays the one state that does not require adults to put on seat belts, regardless of which seat they’re in.
New site visitors measures within the state
The brand new seat belt regulation is not the one one which took impact in Virginia this July. The state has additionally tightened its guidelines towards “avenue takeovers,” which means unlawful occasions with automotive stunts. These actions embody drifting, racing, and harmful maneuvers.
They often happen in teams, on public roads or in parking heaps. Virginia was the sixth state with essentially the most avenue takeovers in 2023. This new rule was promoted by Delegate David Bulova.
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Stricter controls beginning in 2026
Within the medium time period, there will likely be one other main change: beginning in July 2026, drivers who exceed pace limits may have to put in a pace limiter gadget. This method, managed by GPS, will block the accelerator pedal when the utmost allowed pace (velocidad máxima permitida) is reached. It will likely be an alternative choice to having a driver’s license suspended.
Nonetheless, those that drive over 100 mph (160 km/h) will likely be required to put in it. The proposal was introduced by Democrat Patrick Hope. Authorities imagine this one-year window will likely be key to informing residents and correctly implementing the measure. Based on a survey by the AAA Basis, practically half of drivers admit to exceeding pace limits.
