Oklahoma's Seat Belt Law: When Did It Buckle Up?

In Oklahoma, wearing a seat belt is the most effective way to prevent serious injuries and death from car crashes. While over 85% of Oklahomans regularly wear seat belts, the state's laws regarding seat belt use have evolved over time. So, when did seat belts become law in Oklahoma, and how have the regulations changed?

Seat belt laws for children in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, seat belt laws for children are designed to ensure their safety in the event of a car crash, the leading cause of child deaths. Here are the details of these laws:

Age 0-2 Years:

Children under the age of 2 must be properly secured in a rear-facing car seat. This law aligns with the recommendation to keep children rear-facing until they outgrow the height or weight limit of the car seat, as it provides the best protection for their head, neck, and spine.

Age 2-4 Years:

Once a child reaches the age of 2 and has outgrown the rear-facing car seat, they must transition to a forward-facing car seat with a harness. It's important to secure the car seat to the vehicle using the tether. Children in this age group are required by law to remain in a car seat.

Age 4-8 Years:

When a child exceeds the height or weight limits of the forward-facing car seat, they should move to a booster seat used in conjunction with the vehicle's lap and shoulder seat belt. The law requires children in this age group to be in a car seat or booster seat unless they are taller than 4'9" ".

Age 8 Years or Taller than 4'9":

At this stage, children can start using the regular seat belt if they meet the following criteria: their knees should bend at the edge of the seat, the lap belt fits snugly across the hips or upper thighs, and the shoulder belt rests on the shoulder and chest. While this is permitted by law, it is recommended that children under 13 years old ride in the back seat for added safety.

Enforcement and Fines:

Oklahoma's seat belt laws are enforced through the Oklahoma Mandatory Seat Belt Use Act. This law authorizes law enforcement officers to pull over drivers solely for not wearing a seat belt, and both the driver and front-seat passenger can be cited for a violation. Fines are imposed for seat belt violations, but the ultimate cost of not wearing a seat belt could be one's life.

Education and Awareness:

The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO) plays a crucial role in educating Oklahomans about the life-saving importance of buckling up and adhering to child restraint laws. OHSO accomplishes this through campaigns like "Click It or Ticket" and by providing resources on their website.

Oklahoma's Mandatory Seat Belt Use Act

Overview

In Oklahoma, the use of seat belts is mandated by the Oklahoma Mandatory Seat Belt Use Act. This law makes it a requirement for both the driver and front-seat passenger to wear a seat belt at all times. The act of buckling up is emphasised as one of the safest choices that drivers and passengers can make.

Enforcement

The law allows law enforcement officers to pull over drivers solely for not wearing a seat belt, and those cited for a seat belt violation will be subject to a fine.

Child Passenger Safety

While the above law applies to front-seat passengers, Oklahoma also has laws in place to ensure the safety of child passengers in vehicles. Oklahoma law requires every child aged 8 years old and younger to be properly secured in a child passenger restraint system.

Age-Specific Requirements

The requirements are as follows:

• 0-2 years: Children under 2 years old must be secured in a rear-facing car seat.
• 2-4 years: Children must use a car seat until they turn 4.
• 4-8 years: Children must use a car seat or booster seat unless they exceed 4'9" in height.
• 8 years or taller than 4'9": Children in this category should wear a seat belt.

Back Seat Safety

While there is currently no law in Oklahoma requiring children over 8 years old to buckle up in the back seat, efforts are being made to introduce such a measure.

Education and Awareness

The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO) and its partners work to educate Oklahomans about the importance of buckling up and the state laws regarding seat belt use. OHSO accomplishes this through campaigns such as the national mobilisation campaign, "Click It or Ticket".

Seat belt laws in the United States

New Hampshire is the only state with no law requiring adults to wear seat belts in a vehicle. In 15 out of 50 states, non-use of seat belts is considered a secondary offense, meaning a police officer cannot stop and ticket a driver solely for not wearing a seat belt. In 34 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, primary enforcement laws are in place for front seats, allowing officers to stop and ticket drivers for seat belt violations.

Seat belt laws are effective in reducing car crash deaths and injuries. One study found that mandatory seat belt laws reduced traffic fatalities in youths by 8% and serious traffic-related injuries by 9%. Primary seat belt laws seem to be more effective at reducing crash deaths than secondary laws.

In Oklahoma, the Mandatory Seat Belt Use Act requires both the driver and front-seat passenger to wear seat belts at all times. Drivers can be pulled over solely for not wearing a seat belt and will be fined if cited for a violation. Oklahoma law also requires children aged eight and younger to be properly secured in a child passenger restraint system. Children under two must be secured in a rear-facing car seat, while those aged two to four must use a car seat. Children aged four to eight must use a car seat or booster seat unless they are taller than 4'9". Children aged eight or taller than 4'9" are not mandated by law to use a car seat but must wear a seat belt.

Oklahoma's child seat belt law before 2016

Before 2016, Oklahoma's child seat belt law required that all children under the age of eight be properly secured in a child passenger restraint system. This law applied to both the front and back seats of a car.

The specific requirements for child car seats in Oklahoma depended on the child's age, height, and weight. Infants, babies, and toddlers under two years old were required to be in a rear-facing car seat, installed according to the manufacturer's standards. Children under four years old had to be in a seat with an internal harness, while those between four and eight years old needed to be in a fitted car seat or booster seat until they reached a height of four feet nine inches.

Children over eight years old were allowed to ride without a car seat but were required to wear a seat belt. While Oklahoma had no laws prohibiting children from riding in the front seat, it was generally recommended that they wait until they were around 13 years old due to the potential dangers of front seat airbags for smaller children.

The penalties for breaking Oklahoma's car seat laws included fines of up to $208, and while it was unlikely to result in points on a driver's license, it could lead to increased insurance rates. The state also offered resources and assistance to help parents and caregivers properly install car seats, recognizing the critical importance of car seats in ensuring the safety of children during vehicle accidents.

The importance of wearing seat belts

In Oklahoma, wearing a seat belt is not just a recommendation, but the law. The Oklahoma Mandatory Seat Belt Use Act requires both the driver and the front seat passenger to wear seat belts at all times. While this is a recent development, the importance of wearing seat belts has been recognised for decades. Here are some reasons why:

They Save Lives

Seat belts are the most effective way to prevent serious injuries and death in car crashes. In 2014, safety belts saved 12,802 lives, and that number rose to 15,000 in 2017. In contrast, in 2014, 9,385 people died on US roads because they were not wearing seat belts.

They Keep You Secure

Seat belts keep you in your seat during a collision, preventing you from being thrown through the windshield or around the vehicle. G-forces during impacts can cause serious injuries, and seat belts significantly reduce this risk.

They Work with Airbags

Airbags are designed to work in tandem with seat belts, keeping you in place. Without a seat belt, an airbag may be ineffective, and you could slide under it or be ejected from the vehicle.

They Are Required by Law

In addition to the safety benefits, wearing a seat belt is the law in most places. In Oklahoma, drivers can be pulled over solely for not wearing a seat belt and will have to pay a fine.

They Protect Children

Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of child deaths, but proper use of safety restraints can prevent many of these tragedies. In Oklahoma, children aged 0-2 must be in a rear-facing car seat, while children aged 2-4 must use a car seat. Children aged 4-8 must use a car seat or booster seat, and those taller than 4'9" should wear a seat belt.

Frequently asked questions