Mario Cuomo Signs Nation's First Seat Belt Law

Mario Cuomo (Kenneth C. Zirkel/1987)

Pol Light Moment #130 occurred on July 12, 1984, when Mario Cuomo (1932-2015) signed the nation's first seat belt law for the State of New York.  Mario Cuomo served as the Governor of New York from 1983-1994.

The seat belt law that Mario Cuomo signed on July 12, 1984, took effect on December 1, 1984. It required that all front seat passengers in vehicles operating in the State of New York wear a seat belt and that children under 10 year of age also wear a seat belt. The fine when the bill was established was set at $50 (Schenectady Gazette, Cuomo Signs Nation's First Seat Belt Law, Gary Langer, July 13, 1984).

Devin Tobin with the New York Public Research Institute called the law, "the most significant highway measure ever adopted by a state government (Schenectady Gazette, Cuomo Signs Nation's First Seat Belt Law, Gary Langer, July 13, 1984)."

Ironically on July 11, 1984, a day before Mario Cuomo signed the seat belt law, he was involved in a 7 car crash which he survived without injury.  He was wearing a seat belt during the accident (Schenectady Gazette, Governor Unhurt After 7-Car Crash; Seat Belt in Place, Jul 12, 1984).


Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of Mario Cuomo is in the Creative Commons of Wikipedia and is attributed to Kenneth C. Zirkel.