State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) announces a new law that will become effective on January 1, 2012, that requires that all passengers in a motor vehicle to wear a seat belt.

“When we get in our cars each morning to go to work, we make sure that we buckle up before we start driving. We know that wearing a seat belt can save our lives if we were to get into an accident,” Gordon said. “The State of Illinois needs to continue to reduce fatalities and injuries when people are on the roadway and requiring all passengers to wear seat belts is the easiest and most effective way to do this.”

Current state law states that only the driver and front passenger are required to wear a seat belt. This new law requires that back seat passengers, regardless of age, be required to wear a seat belt while riding in a motor vehicle. Emergency vehicles and taxicabs are exempted from this new law.

“On average, there are 792 traffic accidents in Illinois that results in approximately 240 injuries and 2 deaths everyday. The best defense to prevent injury and death during traffic accidents is to wear a seat belt,” Gordon said. “That is why it is important for all passengers in a motor vehicle to wear a seat belt to prevent injuries. Please remember to make sure all of your passengers are buckled up starting January 1st.”

Gordon was a co-sponsor of this piece of legislation. For more information about the new seat belt law, or for any other concerns, please feel free to contact Rep. Gordon’s constituent services office at (309) 681-1992 or via e-mail at repjgordon@gmail.com.