Virginia Tightens Seatbelt Rules After Mother’s Powerful Advocacy

Starting July 1, 2025, Virginia will require everyone in a moving vehicle to wear a seatbelt, no matter where they sit. This includes adults riding in the back seat, a change from previous laws that only required seatbelts for front-seat passengers and kids under 18. Children under 8 still need to be in properly secured child safety seats, with rear-facing seats placed in the back.

The Virginia Highway Safety Office stresses that seatbelts are the most effective way to prevent deaths in crashes. They keep people safely in place, help drivers maintain control, and prevent passengers from being thrown around or ejected during accidents.

This new law comes after a heartbreaking tragedy that changed a Virginia mother’s life forever.

In 2020, Christy King lost her son Christopher in a car crash. He was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the vehicle. At the time, adults riding in the back seat weren’t legally required to buckle up. Christopher and his friends were out fishing and hanging out during the pandemic when they accepted a ride in a convertible Mustang. The driver, who was under the influence and speeding at 80 mph in a 30 mph zone, lost control and hit a ditch. The passengers who wore seatbelts survived, but Christopher did not.

Determined to prevent other families from suffering similar loss, Christy became a passionate advocate for stronger seatbelt laws. She spoke to teens in schools, met with lawmakers, and pushed tirelessly for change. Her efforts resulted in what’s now called the Christopher King seatbelt law, going into effect just before the fifth anniversary of her son’s death.

Virginia has struggled with low seatbelt usage rates — about 73%, compared to the national average of 91%. Christy hopes the new law will save lives but knows seatbelts alone aren’t enough. She warns parents to stay vigilant about speeding, drugs, and other dangers that contributed to her son’s crash. “He’s smiling on us,” she says, “knowing we’re saving lives in his name.”

SOURCES: Virginia DMV, WTVR