Is It Legal to Sit in the Back of a Truck in Alabama

Last weekend, a toddler died after falling from the back of a truck in the Florida Panhandle. (5) A locked suitcase that is placed in a hard-to-reach area behind the front seat of a van that does not have a trunk or a separate enclosed space other than the cab of the truck. Yet, the question of security does not quite answer the question, is it legal? However, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Here`s everything you need to know before driving in the back of a truck. “And use common sense,” Anderson said. “If you have children in the back of a truck, don`t accelerate or drive a vehicle when you`ve been drinking. You can ride in the back of a pickup truck as long as you are 18 years of age or older. It is illegal for persons under the age of 16 to drive in the cargo area unless they have a passenger restraint system. Passengers under the age of 16 cannot sit on the loading area if the vehicle is travelling at more than 25 miles per hour. Trucks must also be equipped with restraint systems for young drivers.

It`s also important to remember this caveat – just because something is legal doesn`t mean it`s safe. Driving in the back of a pickup truck can fall under this umbrella. 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. Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, spoke out against the bill and asked House lawmakers to raise their hands if they were riding in the back of a pickup truck. Each hand went up in the air. Covington County Deputy Chief David Anderson said state law specifically prohibits anyone from driving in the back of a pickup truck, but it does require restrictions — something not typically found on a truck. Keep in mind that it`s not legal to drive in the back of a truck in Florida or Georgia.

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 bunkering dangerous: Last weekend, a three-year-old child died after falling from the back of a truck onto a lawn farm near a baker in Okaloosa County. Many states allow passengers to drive in the back of a truck only in certain situations: they cannot drive in the back of the van on highways. No one under the age of 12 may sit behind highways. Rich said there is evidence that wearing seat belts saves lives; And driving in the back seat of pickup trucks is not always safe. Sergeant Ryan of the Geneva police said: “The most important thing is to use common sense again. They have farmers dragging things behind, but they are not designed to transport people.” No person under the age of 19 may drive in the back of a truck. 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: In Alabama, you can drive in the back of the truck if you`re 15 or older.

Footnote 1 The laws of these states prohibit driving on open parts of a vehicle that are not designed for passengers, although they do not specifically mention the cargo space of a pickup truck. ↩ Rich tried to pass the law this year by watering it down and banning only teens from driving in the back on state and federal highways, rather than also including arterial or other high-capacity roads. It would not apply to agriculture, sanctioned parades and hay rides, or emergency situations. Even if you don`t put human passengers in the cargo area, you can use the space as a place where your pet can sit. Again, state laws on this vary: refresh your hometown rules before taking your dog there. So how do you make sure a child is “properly strapped” to the back of a truck? 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. A truck cannot travel at speeds greater than 35 miles per hour, with passengers under the age of 18 in the back.

Most don`t think much about letting kids get in the back of the truck to drive quickly down the road. 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. While driving in the back of a truck may seem like fun, it can get dangerous very quickly. This is especially true if the driver is not paying attention or driving at speeds that can endanger the lives of passengers in bed. 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. The simple answer to your question is that it matters.

While 31 states pass regulations for passengers in the back of a truck, there are still 20 states that do not have legal regulations. You don`t have to worry about legal restrictions on driving in the back of a pickup truck if you`re in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia or Wyoming. The Alabama House failed to produce a slimped-down version of Representative Kerry Rich`s bill to prevent teens from driving in the back of a pickup truck on a state or federal highway. Passengers travelling on truck loading areas must not be under 18 years of age, unless the vehicle is travelling less than 16 miles per hour. (4) The trunk, storage space or baggage compartment of a motor vehicle or cargo area, storage space or cargo space. 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. 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 answer to this question varies because each state in the United States has its own standards – and sometimes the rules they set are strange. However, when it comes to driving in the back of a pickup truck, the laws are relatively clear. “I think it`s up to parents to make that decision,” she said, while teenagers should be driving in the back of trucks. “I think it`s my decision. Legislating on that is not something I want to support. “They can`t,” he said. “The back of a pickup truck is designed to carry goods, not passengers. Therefore, car manufacturers do not incorporate safety restrictions.

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. However, for the remaining 30 states, you need to make sure to review each state`s legal requirements. Some states only have regulations regarding age requirements for passengers in the back of a pickup truck. Others (such as Arkansas, Utah, and New Jersey) prohibit passengers from driving in the back of a truck. When in doubt, do a simple internet search to see what legal restrictions apply to driving in the back of a van. In the end, it really all depends on the state you`re in. As you can see, laws vary from state to state and many states have no restrictions on driving in the back of a pickup truck. While rolling in bed may bring back nostalgic memories, it`s important to consider potential risk factors before taking a trip back in time. How about driving in the back seat of the pickup truck? Are you ready for a trip or do you prefer to relax in the taxi? 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.