Illinois' Governor Quinn to sign bill requiring all passengers to buckle up
The current seatbelt laws in Illinois require only the front seat passengers and back seat passengers under 18, to wear their seatbelts. House Bill 219, headed for the Governor's desk, would require all passengers in a vehicle to buckle up.
Representatives from the Springfielda area voted against the bill. Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield says he wears a belt when he is a passenger in the back seat. However, he believes that an adult should make their own decision on whether they want to buckle up in the back seat. "During the debate I don't recall statistics being shared on how many lives it might save or accidents reduced if seat belts were required in the backseat. I suspect it might save lives. In the front seat, you're dealing with the windshield."
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) supports the bill. According to IDOT spokesperson, Josh Kauffman, "Illinois is at historic highs in regards to statewide safety belt usage rates. This is a historic achievement. We hope that trend continues. Obviously we understand that safety belts do save lives."
The exceptions to the bill are those persons riding in an emergency vehicle and passengers in the back seat of a taxi.
Exemptions are already in place for people who suffer from medical conditions that prohibit them from buckling up, for people whose car was manufactured before 1965, people who ride motorcycles of mopeds, postal workers and when driving in reverse is required.
