When did it become law to wear a seat belt?

The first mandatory seat belt law in the United States was enacted in 1968, requiring that all new cars be equipped with seat belts. However, the implementation of laws requiring drivers and passengers to wear seat belts varied by state. The first state to enact a law mandating seat belt use for front-seat occupants was New York in 1984. Over the years, many other states followed suit, with laws expanding to include rear-seat passengers as well.