What was the first state to require wearing seatbelts?

Remember when seatbelts were just those annoying straps that got in the way of your comfy bench seat? Back in the '60s, most Americans treated them like the vegetables on their dinner plate: present but ignored. Then one state decided to play parent and make buckling up non-negotiable. Which state was the first to click it or ticket?

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The answer is: New York

New York took the plunge in 1984, becoming the first state to require seatbelts. The law wasn't exactly welcomed with open arms. Some folks treated it like being told to eat their broccoli, with complaints ranging from "You're not the boss of me!" to some truly creative conspiracy theories.

The seatbelt saga actually started back in 1949, when Nash Motors offered them as optional equipment. Most Americans responded with a collective shrug. By the early 1980s, fewer than 15% regularly buckled up, despite clear evidence that seatbelts cut crash risks nearly in half.

But New York's tough love approach worked wonders. Within a year, seatbelt use in the state dramatically increased, and other states started following suit. Even the holdouts eventually came around (Georgia held out until 1996!).

Today, about 90% of Americans buckle up without thinking twice. Though New Hampshire still stands alone without an adult seatbelt law, proudly living up to its "Live Free or Die" motto. Perhaps with a bit more emphasis on the second part than intended.