Within the next two years, the “ding” of a seat belt reminder will be required for all seats in a vehicle, no longer just the driver.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finalized a rule on Monday that will require seat belt use warnings for rear and passenger seats and enhanced warnings for driver seats.

The rule aims to prevent vehicle-related injuries and deaths. On average, there are 822 fatalities and more than 11,000 injuries due to backseat occupants not wearing seat belts each year, according to the rule. Implementation of the rule will prevent more than 500 injuries and 50 deaths each year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a information release.

The rule amends Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, which went into result in 1968. Though vehicle manufactures were installing seat belts before then, this was when the federal government mandated that seat belts be installed for driver seats.

“While seat belt use has improved for decades, there’s still more we can do to make sure everyone buckles up. These recent requirements will assist to boost seat belt use, especially for rear seat passengers, by enhancing reminders for vehicle occupants to buckle up,” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Chief Counsel Adam Raviv said in a information release.

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Here’s what to recognize about the recent rule.

When will the recent rule be implemented?

Front seat belt warning systems must comply with the recent rule by Sept. 1, 2026 and rear seat belt warning systems must comply by Sept. 1, 2027, the rule states. Vehicle manufactures are welcome to comply with the recent rule ahead of these dates.

What vehicles does the recent rule apply to?

The rule applies to passenger cars, trucks, most buses (not school buses) and multi-purpose passenger vehicles with a weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less.

What will rear seat belt warnings sound, look like?

Under the recent rule, vehicles must display visual and audio warnings upon commence-up to inform the driver of the position of rear seat belts. The visual warning must last at least 60 seconds and the audio warning must last at least 30 seconds. If the vehicle can determine rear seats are not occupied, no warnings are required.

Passenger seat belt warnings will be required

Though most vehicles manufactured in 2022 or later have passenger seat belt warnings, the recent rule requires them.

What enhancements will be required of driver seat belt warnings?

Though visual and audio seat belt warnings have been long used for driver seats, the recent rule requires them to be longer. A visual warning will be required when a vehicle’s ignition switch is on, the seat is occupied and the seat belt is not in use. The audio warning will be two phases. The first must last at least 30 seconds. The second phase must activate when the seat is occupied, seat belt is not in use and the vehicle speed is at least 6.2 miles per hour, the rule states.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. pursue her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. narrative concept? Email her at [email protected].