This attention has kept the issue in the forefront and helped make state legislators receptive to graduated licensing. In the other 42 jurisdictions, there's wide variation in the strength of the provisions. States accomplish this by prohibiting unsupervised driving in high-risk situations like at night or with passengers. The tougher these restrictions are and the longer they last past a beginner's 16th birthday, the higher we rated a state's licensing law covering young drivers. But the provisions vary widely.
Enforcement is secondary, which means motorists have to be stopped for some other violation first.
This impedes enforcement and explains, in part, why belt use is significantly lower in the United States than in Canada and elsewhere. What matters most is whether these laws together provide primary coverage for all children younger than 13 in all seats or allow some children to ride unrestrained. So it's perfectly legal for children to ride unrestrained in rear seats. The back seat is where we tell parents it's safest for their children to ride, so laws should cover the kids who sit there. All riders were covered, and injuries among cyclists were reduced.