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Details about Illinois Seat Belt Laws (Part A)

It is widely believed that the most effective safety measure ever created for cars and trucks is the safety belt. That viewpoint exists despite the more recent safety innovations such as anti-lock brakes, driver and passenger side airbags, and real-time roadside assistance systems like OnStar. Consequently, Illinois seat belt laws were enacted to help keep both drivers and passengers safe.

Basics of Illinois Seat Belt Laws

Here are the major aspects of the seat belt laws in Illinois that you should be familiar with.

• Drivers and front seat passengers must wear a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion.
• If the driver is under 18 years of age, then passengers under the age of 19 sitting anywhere in the vehicle must be wearing a seat belt.
• Children under 8 years of age must be secured properly in an approved child safety restraint system.

The seat belt law does name specific exemptions from prosecution. These include:

• Drivers of motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, or motorized pedal cycles;
• Persons driving or riding in any vehicle manufactured before 1965;
• People inside vehicles which are not required by federal law to be equipped with safety belts;
• Individuals who are unable to use a seat belt due to medical or physical reasons (though a physician's note is required);
• Postal carriers in rural areas who are delivering the mail;
• Drivers who often stop to deliver packages or other items - if the vehicle travels no more than 15 miles per hour; and
• Drivers of vehicles moving in reverse;

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