Final answer:
The driver is usually charged with the violation if a 15-year-old backseat passenger is not wearing a seatbelt. Laws by location may vary, and sometimes both the driver and the passenger can be held liable. The driver's responsibility is to enforce seatbelt use for safety and to reduce societal burdens following accidents.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a 15-year-old backseat passenger is not wearing a seatbelt, typically, the driver of the vehicle would be charged with the violation. This is because most laws stipulate that the driver is responsible for ensuring all passengers, especially minors, adhere to safety regulations such as wearing seatbelts. However, the specific laws can vary by location, and in some cases both the driver and the underage passenger, or even the passenger's guardian, could be held liable.
In scenarios where the local law places responsibility on the driver for minors' safety restraint usage, it is generally to promote overall safety and reduce the risks associated with not wearing a seatbelt. For example, driving without a seatbelt or allowing passengers to do so can lead to more severe injuries in the event of an accident, which can subsequently result in higher medical costs and a greater burden on society.
This safety regulation is akin to a pilot ensuring that passengers are seated with their seatbelts fastened during critical phases of a flight, as per the case study: flight risk, where a pilot informs passengers when it is safe to move around the cabin. The seatbelt ensures that passengers are protected, and similarly, road safety laws require drivers to ensure all passengers comply with seatbelt regulations.