What Are the Seat Belt Laws in Maryland?
In 2022, just 45% of fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants were using seat belts at the time of their accident, according to reports by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Seat belts save lives. That’s not just a popular saying; it’s a fact. In Maryland, seat belt laws are in place and enforced to help ensure the safety of drivers and passengers on our roads. Regardless of whether you’re new to the state or a longtime resident, knowing and understanding these laws can be crucial for your safety in a car accident, as well as to avoid tickets, fines, or other legal consequences.
Here in the Old Line State, we have some of the strictest seat belt laws in the country, and compliance isn’t just encouraged—it’s required.
Maryland’s Seat Belt Laws
The laws mandating all drivers and passengers to wear seat belts apply to every seat in the vehicle, whether it’s the front or the back. Some states focus primarily on front-seat restraints, but Maryland takes a more comprehensive approach.
Everyone in the vehicle must be secured with a seat belt, no matter where they are seated, and at all times while the vehicle is in operation.
Maryland is a “primary enforcement” state, meaning that law enforcement officers can pull over and issue a ticket to a driver or passenger based solely on their not wearing a seat belt. This is notably different from states that practice “secondary enforcement,” where a ticket for not wearing a seat belt can be issued only if the driver is stopped for another reason.
In our state, a police officer doesn’t need any more reason to pull you over if someone in your vehicle isn’t properly restrained.
Special Rules for Children
We also have strict rules and penalties concerning child passengers, as young children are particularly vulnerable when a car accident occurs. Child passenger safety laws state that children under the age of eight years must be secured in an appropriate child safety seat (unless they’re taller than four feet nine inches.)
All children between the ages of eight and sixteen years old are required to wear seat belts anywhere they’re seated in the vehicle. For younger children, the proper installation and use of a child safety seat or booster seat can be vital for their protection in a crash. Once they’re bigger than the rear-facing seat’s weight or height limits, they should switch to a forward-facing seat with a safety harness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children ride rear-facing as long as possible.
Children who outgrow their forward-facing seat should use a booster seat until they are large enough for the vehicle’s seat belt to fit them properly.
It’s also important to note that the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends and provides guidelines for car seat replacement after even minor crashes.
Seat Belts and Legal Liability
Wearing a seat belt in Maryland is not only important for safety—it can also have legal implications as well if you’re in an accident. If you’re involved in a crash and aren’t wearing your seat belt at the time, it may be used against you and limit your ability to get compensation for injuries and losses.
Conversely, if your seatbelt fails, you may have grounds for a product liability lawsuit.
Maryland follows the legal doctrine of contributory negligence, meaning that if you’re found to be even slightly at fault for your injuries, you may be barred from recovering damages in a personal injury lawsuit. If you’re injured in a car accident and weren’t wearing a seat belt, the opposing party may argue that your failure to wear a seat belt contributed to your injuries, potentially reducing or eliminating your ability to receive compensation.
This is why it’s crucial to always wear your seat belt, not only for your physical safety but to safeguard your legal rights following an accident, as well.
Maryland’s seat belt laws couldn’t be clearer: everyone in the vehicle must be wearing proper restraints, no matter where they’re seated.
At Belsky & Horowitz, LLC, we want you to understand that these laws are in place to protect the safety of drivers, passengers, and especially the lives of young children. Not wearing a seat belt can result in fines and penalties, legal consequences, and, most importantly, the risk of injury or death in an accident.
By following the State of Maryland’s seat belt laws, you not only avoid potential legal trouble but also take an important step in protecting yourself, your family, and other passengers every time you get behind the wheel.
Remember, when you’re on the road, buckling up is one of the easiest and most effective ways to keep everyone safe.
