Many of us can recall fondly riding in the back of a truck as children; although this experience was exhilarating at first, it can actually be extremely dangerous and illegal in most states.
While there may be exceptions in cases such as an emergency or parade, most states restrict passenger riding in truck beds for safety purposes to protect children and teenagers.
Age Requirements
Although children under certain ages may legally ride on the back of trucks, this activity should never be undertaken without prior consultation with medical authorities and consideration of possible accidents that might involve them – which may cause severe injuries or even fatalities with medical costs often reaching six figures.
Under general laws, anyone under 18 is prohibited from riding in a truck bed without being secured with a seat belt; however, laws regarding this may vary depending on which state it occurs in.
North Carolina law states that passengers under 16 may ride in the open bed of a pickup truck or other cargo area if used for parade or hay ride purposes and with supervision provided by their driver; also only on lower speed roads such as town streets or farm to market roads.
Riding in the back of a truck can be dangerous for dogs, who could become vulnerable to injury and carbon monoxide poisoning from being exposed to vehicle exhaust fumes. To keep your pet safe during transportation, always use a harness with seatbelt attachment if transporting in this manner.
Safety Requirements
Though driving around town in a truck might be enjoyable on a bright sunny day, passengers may not be safe from serious injury as this activity does not feature seat belts or airbags to protect them in case of an accident – leaving passengers vulnerable to serious injury as a result of riding in its bed.
Good news is that most states do not prohibit people from riding in the back of trucks; however, some have restrictions for safety purposes. For instance, West Virginia allows children under age 10 to ride if accompanied by an adult and taking part in parades or farm work activities.
Anyone wishing to ride in the back of a truck should also be aware that this vehicle should only be operated on lower speed roads; highways or interstates could put passengers at too great of a risk for sudden stops and collisions, potentially injuring themselves as passengers.
Insurance Requirements
Riding in the back of a truck might seem exciting to some people, but it can be very dangerous. Truck beds were built for carrying cargo without seat belts to provide extra safety against crashes at even low speeds.
Whenever a driver strikes an object or swerves to avoid collision, those inside will be thrown like rag dolls into the air causing serious injuries caused by both impact and carbon monoxide poisoning.
If you have been injured while riding in the back of a truck, it is imperative that you contact an attorney from Collins Legal as soon as possible. You could be entitled to compensation for your injuries; contact us now and schedule a free case consultation session! Our offices serve clients throughout Tennessee and beyond – visit us in Nashville or fill out a contact form on our website!
Legal Restrictions
Some states prohibit passengers from riding in the back of a truck for good reason: its beds were built for transporting cargo rather than people, without safety features like seats and restraints, making it dangerously hazardous to do so.
There are exceptions to every rule; certain states permit riders to sit in the back of a truck bed for specific events like parades or hayrides; others such as Indiana and Louisiana have laws mandating that passengers wear seat belts at all times.
Rhode Island and South Carolina only mandate seat belt use for front seat passengers; rear-seat passengers are free to ride in the bed of a pickup truck without restrictions or regulations imposed by those states. Meanwhile, Maine and Hawaii allow such riders to ride provided there is no additional seating available.
Chris is a passionate learner and writer. When he’s not working on his blog or learning something new, he’s a full-time systems administrator and father of two beautiful girls. Chris loves spending time with his family, reading, writing, and playing hockey.