Can you ride in the bed of a truck?
As a pickup truck owner, do you have friends who want to ride in the bed of your pickup truck? Especially young people, they would love to sit in the bed and enjoy the breeze and freedom. But, is it allowed? I would say that riding in the bed of a pickup truck is not a safe place. If there is a collision, you will not be protected.
In terms of its legality, the answer to this question is different in different states. If you want to know whether you can ride in the bed of a pickup truck, you must know the local laws. Here is everything you need to know before riding in the bed of a truck.
States With No Restrictions
The following 18 states do not have specific laws, which means you cannot be punished for sitting in the bed of a truck.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa, although local ordinances may prohibit it
- Kentucky
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Although there are no current legal restrictions, as society develops, the laws may change. Therefore, whether you are a driver or a passenger, please pay attention to the laws in your state in a timely manner.
States With Restrictions
If you happen to be in a state other than the states listed above, your home state has specific rules about riding in the back of a pickup truck.
Many states will only allow passengers to ride in the bed of a truck under certain circumstances. Of course, different states have different laws, so if you plan to travel to another state, you need to be aware of the following state regulations:
- Arizona, District of Columbia and New Jersey: Only employees who are on duty are allowed to ride in the bed of a pickup truck.
- California, Indiana and New York:It is illegal for anyone to ride in the back of a truck.
- Colorado:Passengers can sit in the bed. The bed must have a covered cargo area.
- Connecticut: Only passengers 16 years of age or older may ride in the back of a truck. Otherwise, they can, but they must wear a seat belt.
- Florida, Nevada: Only passengers 18 years of age or older may ride in the bed of a truck unless the area is enclosed. Duty personnel may also ride in the bed of a truck.
- Georgia: Only persons over 18 may ride in the back of a pickup unless the bed is enclosed.
- Hawaii: Passengers can only sit in bed if there's no cab space.
- Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico:You can ride in a pickup truck if you're at least 18 years old.
- Louisiana: You can't ride in the bed of a pickup truck on interstate highways. No one under the age of 12 can ride in the back seat on highways.
- Maine: No one under the age of 19 can ride in the back of a truck.
- Maryland: Passengers under the age of 16 are not allowed to ride in the bed of a truck when the vehicle is traveling over 25 miles per hour. Trucks must also have restraints for younger drivers.
- Massachusetts:Children 12 years of age or younger may not ride in the bed of a pickup truck unless the vehicle is traveling 5 miles per hour or less and the trip is 5 miles or less.
- Michigan: Passengers riding in truck beds can’t be under the age of 18 unless the vehicle drives less than 16 miles per hour.
- Missouri:No one under the age of 18 can ride in the bed of a truck if they’re traveling via highways or in urban areas.
- North Carolina:Riders under 17 can’t sit in the bed of a truck unless secured by a belt or supervised by a parent.
- Ohio:Passengers under the age of 16 may not ride in the bed of a pickup truck when the vehicle is traveling at speeds greater than 25 miles per hour. No one can ride in the back of a pickup truck if the tailgate isn't secured.
- Oregon:Anyone under the age of 18 must wear a seat belt. Otherwise, they cannot ride in the truck bed.
- Pennsylvania: A truck with passengers under the age of 18 in the back may not exceed 35 miles per hour.
- Rhode Island:It’s illegal for anyone under 16 to ride in the truck bed unless they have a passenger restraint.
- South Carolina:Passengers 15 and under cannot sit in the rear of a pickup without adult supervision or restraint.
- Tennessee:Anyone 12 and older can ride in the back of a truck.
- Texas: Passengers who are younger than 18 cannot sit in the truck bed. Otherwise, the truck’s owner can seat people in the bed so long as they are family members.
- Utah:No one can ride in the back of a truck except for work-related reasons.
- Virginia: No one under the age of 16 can sit in the truck bed.
- Wisconsin: The state stipulates that passengers can only sit in the bed for valid reasons, such as farming, hunting, work and parades.
Dangers of Riding in the Bed of a Pickup
The legal provisions are not intended to restrict your freedom. On the contrary, they are trying their best to protect your safety. Since there are no seat belts in our cars, when an accident occurs, it will cause serious personal injury. The following are common dangers:
Ejection Risk
Without restraints such as seat belts to hold them in place, passengers in the pickup truck bed are at high risk of being ejected and can easily fall out of the truck during sudden stops, sharp turns or driving on rough roads.
Impact in a Crash
In a collision, passengers in the bed of a pickup truck are largely unprotected and can be violently thrown out. In a rear-end collision, passengers can no longer maintain their balance due to inertia and body vibrations, and can be thrown around the bed of the truck. In a head-on collision, it is even more dangerous, and passengers sitting in the back of the truck may be ejected due to the sudden stop of the truck.
Exposure to Elements
Passengers riding in the bed of a pickup truck are exposed to inclement weather, including extreme temperatures, rain, wind and flying debris, which may lead to hypothermia, heat stroke or other weather-related health problems.
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Sitting in the back of a truck means passengers are in close proximity to vehicle exhaust. Dizziness, headaches, and vertigo are just some of the symptoms that can lead to serious health problems.
In conclusion, regardless of whether riding in the back of a pickup truck is illegal or not, it is not recommended for your safety.
Usual injuries to passengers in the bed of a pickup
When riding in the back of a pickup truck, passengers can suffer serious injuries in the event of an accident.
These injuries include:
- Head injuries:Due to the lack of protection, passengers can suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBI), which can lead to long-term disabilities such as cognitive impairment, speech problems, and personality changes.
- Spinal injuries:The forces of the accident can cause spinal cord damage, resulting in paralysis or loss of mobility, and can also cause nerve damage and chronic pain.
- Broken bones: Passengers can suffer broken arms, legs, pelvis, ribs, etc. from the impact of the accident.
- Cuts and bruises:Cuts and abrasions caused by impact with other objects or the ground during an accident may occur, and may require medical attention.
- Internal injuries:Passengers can suffer injuries from impact with other objects or the ground that may not be immediately apparent but can be life-threatening.
Without seat belts and airbags, passengers can be thrown from the vehicle, resulting in serious injury or even death. Even in a low-speed accident, passengers in the back of a pickup truck can suffer serious injuries.
People Also Ask
Can you ride when your dogs are in the bed of the truck?
As with many legal questions, the answer depends largely on where you live. It appears that only six states (California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island) have such laws. There are laws that specifically prohibit dogs from riding unrestrained in the back of a pickup truck. Most state laws that address this issue make it illegal to transport a dog in the back of a convertible on a public road. Regardless, the practice is unsafe for both the animal and the driver.
