Why modern cars nag you about seatbelts — and why it’s not going away

Seatbelt reminders in new cars have grown louder, longer, and more persistent because half of the Americans who die in crashes aren’t buckled up. In 2022 the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) began rating seatbelt reminders after U.S. traffic fatalities kept rising even as overall vehicle safety improved. The latest NHTSA data for 2024 shows 48 percent of the 22,713 people killed in crashes were unbelted. IIHS tests evaluate audible and visual reminders for front- and second-row seats, awarding a “Good” rating only if the audible alert lasts 90 seconds or more for any unbelted passenger. Jessica Jermakian, IIHS senior vice president of vehicle research, told Motor1 that more persistent reminders do work, especially on part-time users who forget or skip belts on short trips or rideshares. As a result, automakers have cranked up volume, frequency, and duration, turning reminders into an inescapable nag that shows no sign of fading.