Who is responsible for ensuring passengers under 18 wear seat belts in Florida?

In Florida, the driver holds the responsibility for ensuring that all passengers under the age of 18 wear seat belts. This law is in place to promote safety for younger passengers who may not fully understand the importance of wearing a seat belt or may not take initiative to secure themselves. It emphasizes the driver's duty not only to drive safely but also to ensure that all legal safety requirements are met for those in the vehicle, particularly minors.

Passengers themselves may be responsible for buckling up if they are 18 or older, but minors are under the care of the driver in this context. Similarly, while the vehicle owner has responsibilities relating to vehicle maintenance and registration, they are not directly accountable for the behavior of passengers once the vehicle is in operation. Law enforcement may enforce seat belt laws, but their role is not about ensuring compliance in the moment; it’s about upholding the law overall. Thus, it is the driver who has the primary responsibility to ensure that younger occupants are safely secured with seat belts while the vehicle is in motion.