What Are Texas’s Seat Belt Laws?

Seat belts are one of the most important safety systems for vehicles ever invented. They help reduce the risk of physical injuries in a car accident by restraining vehicle occupants to their seats. Used in conjunction with airbags, seat belts have the power to prevent most serious and life-threatening injuries. Many states require vehicle occupants to use seat belts at all times. Texas is one of them.

Does Texas Require Seat Belts?

Yes, Texas has a law requiring seat belts. Under Texas Transportation Code 545.413, all vehicle occupants in seats with safety belts must use the belts while the vehicle is in operation. It is a breach of Texas’s seat belt law if a driver allows a child under the age of 17 who does not have to use a car seat to ride in a vehicle without securement by a safety belt unless the seat does not have one. All motor vehicles must have safety belts if they were part of the vehicle’s original equipment from the manufacturer.

Breaking the state law by failing to wear a seat belt while in a car in Texas could lead to a fine of $25 (minimum) to $200 (maximum). The fine is $25 to $50 for someone who is at least 15 years old failing to wear a seat belt while riding in a passenger vehicle. This is an infraction in Texas. The fine increases to $100 to $200, however, for breaking the law that requires children under 17 to use seat belts in passenger cars and vans designed to transport 15 or fewer passengers. Breaking this law is a misdemeanor in Texas.

Only a few exceptions to Texas’s seat belt law exist. If the person has a written statement from a licensed physician excusing him or her from wearing a seat belt, is a US Postal Service worker on duty, is delivering newspapers, is a meter reader, is driving a registered farm vehicle, or is using the car exclusively to transport waste, he or she does not have to wear a seat belt.

Texas’s Car Seat Laws

If you are transporting children, you must comply with Texas’s car seat laws as well. Section 545.412 of the law requires child passenger safety seat systems for all children who are younger than eight and under four feet, nine inches tall. A driver must keep the child secured in the safety seat for the duration of a drive. Failing to buckle a child into the correct car seat system for his or her age and height could lead to a misdemeanor charge and a fine of $25 to $250.

The Importance of Wearing a Seat Belt

Several national safety organizations stress the importance of wearing a seat belt or using a child car seat while in a motor vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that using a seat belt in the front seat reduces the risk of a fatal injury by 45%. Buckling up in a light truck reduces the risk of fatal injury by 60%. In 2017, seat belts saved 14,955 lives. The NHTSA estimates that an additional 2,549 people would not have died had everyone been wearing seat belts in 2017.

Can Not Wearing a Seat Belt Hurt Your Car Accident Claim?

One of the questions an insurance company might ask you after you submit a car accident claim is whether you were wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision. If you were not buckled up, it could negatively affect your claim. The auto insurance company may argue that you contributed to your own injuries by breaking Texas’s seat belt laws. This could lead to lesser compensation offered for your injuries. Breaking the seat belt law does not, however, stop you from seeking damages through a car accident lawsuit. You could still be eligible for compensation through a fault-based lawsuit against another driver, even without wearing a seat belt. Speak to an attorney for more information.