In a Safety Recommendation Report issued this week, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) called for new requirements on seating and seat belt systems for limousines at the national level.
The NTSB urges lap and shoulder belts for every passenger seating position on all new vehicles modified for use as limousines and requires their seating systems to meet minimum performance standards to ensure integrity during crashes. The report builds off of investigations into accidents in New York, Illinois, and New Jersey.
“It’s disheartening to learn that some passenger vehicles are legally on the road that don’t offer passengers well-designed seats and seat belts,’’ NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said. “All vehicle occupants should have the same level of protection wherever they are seated. And everyone should use seat belts whenever they are available.”
Beyond the national call for standards, the NTSB is also urging the National Limousine Association to create methods to ensure seat belts are functional, accessible, and encouraged to be used by passengers, along with educating members on proper seat belt use. This is especially important as, according to their findings, if seat belts on limousines are not readily accessible to passengers, they are unlikely to be worn.
Further, the NTSB have pressed the New York State Department of Transportation to ensure all limousine seat belts are functional and accessible in their regular inspection process, and encouraged the state to pass legislation providing for primary enforcement of a mandatory seat belt use law for all vehicle seating positions with a passenger restraint system, even in limousines.