Gov’t says new cars will need shoulder belts for rear centre seats

OTTAWA – The federal government says new cars will need to have shoulder safety belts for the rear centre seat as of September 2015.

And it’s toughening standards for vehicle safety tests.

It says tests will have to use female and child dummies as well as the usual male dummies.

Tests will also have to be done at higher speeds.

Transport Canada says the new requirements will improve vehicle safety and bring Canada into closer alignment with U.S. standards.

Older model cars will not have to be retrofitted with shoulder belts.