1. What is Utah’s Safety Belt Use Law?

Buckle Up in Utah — It’s the Law! Utah’s Safety Belt Use Law states that drivers and passengers must wear a safety restraint. The law provides for primary enforcement for individuals up to 19 years of age, which means an officer can stop the vehicle if he/she observes an unrestrained occupant under the age of 19. In addition, children 0 through 4 must be properly restrained in an approved car safety seat and children age 5 through 18 must be restrained in a car seat or seat belt. For a person age 19 or older, enforcement by an officer can be only as a secondary action when the person has been detained for another offense, such as speeding. The law applies to all seating positions that are equipped with seat belts.

The driver is responsible for unrestrained occupants under the age of 16. However, unrestrained occupants who are 16 and older will receive their own citation. If cited, the maximum fine is $45. The fine can be reduced up to $30 if the violator attends a Defensive Driving class. Class fee is $12 and is offered by the Utah Safety Council by calling 801-478-7878 or outside the Salt Lake Metro Area 800-933-5943.

There are a few exceptions to the law which include: vehicles that were not equipped with seat belts at the time of purchase (pre July 1, 1966 vehicles); drivers or passengers that possess a written verification from a licensed physician that the driver or passenger is unable to wear a seat belt for physical or medical reasons; the law only applies to seating positions required to be equipped with seat belts; the law does not apply to a passenger if all seating positions are occupied by other passengers.

2. When can my child safely use a regular seatbelt?

They key to this question is the word, “safely.” Utah’s law only requires that children ride in appropriate child safety seats until they are 5 years of age. Unfortunately, most children younger than age 8 do not fit properly in an adult-size safety belt. Seatbelts were designed for the average –sized adult male, not a five-year-old child. Safety experts highly advise all parents to keep their children in booster seats until they are 4’9” tall or around age eight. Booster seats “boost” the child so that the lap and shoulder belt fit safely over the strongest parts of their body. For more information on booster seats visit www.boosterseat.gov

3. Can I put more than one child in a seatbelt?

No. Every person in a vehicle should have his or her own seat belt. In the event of a motor vehicle crash, sharing a seat belt can cause extreme injury and even death as the two sharing the seat belt crash into each other.

4. Do I have to replace my seatbelts in my vehicle if it was involved in a crash?

Airbags, safety belts, and child restraints are generally considered “one time use” products. After a crash they may need to be replaced. Without a doubt, airbags and pretensioners used with some belt systems must be replaced if they are activated during a crash. Vehicle manufacturers also recommend that safety belts in use in a crash be replaced except in minor crashes. Some vehicle manufacturers suggest that the safety belts should be inspected by a service technician after any type or severity of collision. For more information, contact the manufacturer of your vehicle.

5. If my seatbelt doesn’t fit properly, can I put it under my arm or behind my back?

Seat belts function best when properly used, with the lap belt worn 2 to 4 inches below the waist, against the hips and upper thighs—never high over the ribs and stomach. The shoulder belt should never be worn under the arm or behind the back. It should be worn snugly across the chest with the belt lying against the collarbone. When driving, sit up straight at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel for added air bag protection in the event of a crash.

One faces a risk of serious injury or death by not using the seat belt properly – in this case, by not placing both components of the belt on the appropriate points of the body. The seat belt is designed to contact the strongest points of the body—the pelvis and the collarbone. When it is not worn properly, the user risks soft tissue damage to vital organs like the lungs, stomach, liver, and even spinal cord—all of which can be quite debilitating. Also, supplemental restraint systems like air bags work best in conjunction with a properly used lap and shoulder belt.

If there is a problem with proper belt fit, one way to help the shoulder belt fit better is to move closer to where the belt buckles (i.e., on the driver's side, move toward the right). This lessens the angle at which the belt crosses the neck, and helps in many vehicles.