States Legal to Ride in Back of Truck
Driving in the back of a truck for a passenger depends on a number of factors. However, many people have died in accidents because they drove on a loading area. Last year, Alabama Rep. Kerry Rich introduced a bill that would ban people under the age of 19 from driving in the back of a pickup truck after a fatal crash killed four people sitting in the back of a pickup truck. The law met with resistance and was not passed. Note: This story was updated on June 8, 2020 to include changes to Hawaii`s truck platform laws. Speeding, sharp turns and bumpy roads are typical causes of injury to people sitting in the back of a truck. However, there are several reasons that make driving in the hold dangerous: If you leave a state where there are no driving restrictions on truck dumps, you can be completely knocked out if you are stopped because your dog is driving on the loading area. In this article, we`ll go over some restrictions on driving in the back of trucks, as well as the laws that apply to each state.
Safety comes first when it comes to loading platform rules. Most cargo areas do not have occupant safety mechanisms, and some are not closed on all four sides. The lack of safety features means that passenger ejection can occur quickly and unexpectedly. However, sometimes there are emergencies when driving in the back of a truck may be necessary. Dogs are usually very excitable, and the little guy might see something he likes and decides to jump out of the moving truck. This can lead to serious injury or even death. If you don`t live in any of these states, your hometown regulates who can ride in the back of a pickup. Here`s what you need to know, by state: Are you a lawyer? Visit our professional website ยป Many people and pets drive in the back of a van, many without incident. However, there are usually no seat belts in the back. The lack of restraint systems causes serious bodily injury and is responsible for 47 percent of fatal crashes in 2017, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The rest of the 30 states have different policies regarding passengers who can ride in the back of a pickup truck.
People are confused about whether it is illegal to drive in their state in the back of a truck. No person under the age of 18 may drive in the back of a truck while travelling on motorways or in urban areas. We know better than anyone how memorable a trip in the back of a van can be. We want you to be able to create lasting memories like this, but times have changed. The innocent way you used to drive may no longer be technically legal. We want you to stay up to date with the current rules so your fun rides don`t turn into a hefty fine. So if you live in one of the following states, you can be sure that you won`t be stopped because passengers are driving in the back of a truck. Only passengers 18 years of age and older may board a loading area unless the area is fenced. On-duty employees can also drive in the back of a truck. Only passengers 16 years of age and older can ride in the back of a truck. If not, they can, but they must wear a seat belt. In the other 30 states, driving in the back of a truck is legal with certain restrictions.
One possibility is protective cages, which have been specially manufactured for truck loading areas. These have a protective layer on the bed floor to protect the paws from heat. If you happen to be stopped because passengers are driving in the back of your truck. So we can try to answer all your questions about driving in the back of trucks. The two main factors that affect passengers in the loading area are: In this sense, it is especially dangerous for four-legged friends to sit in the back of a truck. A 2018 study found that about 100,000 dogs die each year while riding this way. They face injuries and carbon monoxide poisoning in accidents. Driving in the back of a pickup truck can be liberating. It can evoke memories of your nostalgic childhood while you drove in the back of the family van. But with the changes to vehicle safety laws, you may be wondering if it`s legal to drive in the back of the truck these days.
Although it may seem unimaginable today, there was a time when wearing a seat belt was just a suggestion. Let`s take a look at some details about the laws that prohibit (or allow) driving in the back of a pickup truck. But unfortunately, this is not only dangerous, but also illegal in many states. Many states only allow passengers to ride in the back of a truck in certain situations: Read on to find out which states allow people to drive in the back of a pickup truck and which are not. Dogs love nature. What they love just as much is the wind blowing on their faces in the back of a moving truck. You cannot drive in the back of the van on highways. No one under the age of 12 may sit behind highways. A dog is subject to the same risks as a human when driving in the back of a truck. Passengers under the age of 16 cannot sit on the loading area when the vehicle is travelling at speeds greater than 25 miles per hour. No one can drive in the back of a pickup truck if the tailgate is not secured. A truck cannot travel at speeds greater than 35 miles per hour, with passengers under the age of 18 in the back.
Twenty states do not have laws prohibiting the transportation of people on a loading area. These are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. There is no national legislation regulating passenger rules for truck loading areas. It is up to each State to make the formal decision on the trial. No one under the age of 19 is allowed to drive in the back of a truck. But even that is limited to speeds below 35 miles per hour. It also depends on the age of the passengers in the back of the truck. Laws vary from state to state and possibly from county to county. Here`s what you need to know if you`re planning to visit any of the following states: This is still very dangerous, because if the truck suddenly stops, the dog may get scared and run. With the leash, this can lead to suffocation. Only employees on duty can ride in the back of a van.
The truck driver is guilty of an administrative offence if he violates the above laws regarding passengers on a truck platform. For example, the state of Mississippi changed some of its laws in 2017. One of those laws involved driving in the back of a truck, and it`s now strictly prohibited. Driving in the back of a pickup truck is common in farm work, so many states don`t have laws against it. Your policies may not explicitly prohibit quiet rides in the back of a pickup truck. However, this does not mean that the preferred mode of passenger transport is on the loading area. Laws governing passenger transportation in loading areas vary from state to state. Hard Working Trucks turned to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for help with truck platform laws in all 50 states. However, there may also be local laws in your area that you need to consider.
The decision to drive in the back of a pickup truck comes with some safety trade-offs. For example, passengers in the back of a truck do not have the safety of safety devices such as seat belts and airbags. In the event of a collision or sudden stop, passengers in the back of a truck are at a much higher risk of injury. Children under the age of 12 cannot ride in the back of a pickup truck unless the vehicle is travelling at 5 miles per hour or less and travelling five miles or less during its trip. The IIHS has given us permission to publish a helpful chart on its website that examines state laws regarding travel in car charging areas across the country. Several states are getting very specific about bed laws, such as California, where people can drive in the back of a truck if the vehicle is used on a farm or parade where vehicles don`t exceed 8 miles per hour. Interestingly, Missouri`s truck bed law is the longest and most detailed. The other states all have different laws and other restrictions regarding driving in the back of a truck. Looking at the list above, you may be thinking, “Why are there still so many states that allow this?” Most States do not consider driving in the back of a truck to be a particularly dangerous activity to be discouraged.