There are a lot of exciting parts of planning an RV road trip! Where to go … what to see … who to travel with … but you don’t want to neglect one of the most important parts of any road travel – your own safety and that of your passengers.
RV Seat Belt Laws
Seat belt laws vary widely from state to state, which can make things complicated if you’re traveling through several states or across the country. The easiest thing to do is abide by the state with the strictest laws, and then you’ll know you’re in good shape regardless of where you travel. With regard to RV seat belt laws, you can sit anywhere in your rig, however, that does not mean that all areas of an RV are the safest to ride. Most importantly, the general consensus is to definitely strap in somewhere, as that is a safer alternative than not being strapped in at all.
RV Seat Belt Laws by State
All states now require the passengers and driver in the front of an RV to buckle up. New Hampshire does exempt models from 1968 or older, but everyone else up front needs to buckle up! Although it’s not a requirement in each of those states that the people in the back buckle up, it is certainly the safest way to travel!
The following states also require passengers besides those in the front to buckle up:
Alabama: Those in the back seat are not required, but remember to be smart and safe while traveling
Alaska: All passengers in the vehicle are required to wear a seat belt
Arizona: Children under 15 need to wear a seat belt in the back seats
Arkansas: All passengers in the vehicle are required to wear a seat belt
California: All passengers in the vehicle are required to wear a seat belt
Colorado: All passengers in the vehicle are required to wear a seat belt
Connecticut: Passengers in back seats who are under 16 are required to buckle up
Delaware: Every passenger in the vehicle must wear a seat belt
Florida: Passengers in the back who are under 18 are required to buckle up
Georgia: Passengers in the back under 18 are required to wear seat belts
Hawaii: Everyone in the vehicle is required to buckle up
Idaho: Everyone in an RV must wear a seat belt, but vehicles over 8,000 pounds are exempt from the rule
Illinois: All passengers 15 and under are required to wear seat belts in the back of a motorhome
Indiana: Backseat riders can sit without seatbelts while the vehicle is on the road
Iowa: All passengers (and the driver, of course!) must wear a seat belt when riding in an RV
Kansas: Children under 14 needs to have a seat belt when riding in the back of an RV
Kentucky: Everyone is required to wear a seat belt when the RV is moving
Louisiana: Children under 12 are required to buckle up in the back seats of an RV
Maine: Everyone in the RV is required to wear a seat belt
Maryland: Adults in the backseat do not have to be buckled, but children should still be in seatbelts
Massachusetts: Everyone in the RV is required to wear a seat belt
Michigan: Children riding in the back who are under 15 are required to buckle up
Minnesota: Children ten and under are required to wear a seat belt in the back seats
Mississippi: Children ten and under are required to wear a seat belt in the back seats
Missouri: Children under 15 need to buckle up if they’re riding in the back seats
Montana: Everyone riding in an RV is required to wear a seat belt
Nebraska: Those under 18 need to buckle up in the back seats
Nevada: Everyone is required to wear a seat belt in an RV unless it is traveling at less than 15 miles per hour
New Hampshire: Everyone is required to wear a seat belt in an RV unless it is a 1968 or older model
New Jersey: Children 17 and under are required to buckle up in the back seats
New Mexico: All passengers must wear a seat belt
New York: Children under 15 are required to wear seat belts in the back seats
North Carolina: Children under 16 are required to wear seat belts in the back seats
North Dakota: Children under 17 are required to wear seat belts in the back seats
Ohio: Only front seat riders need to buckle up, but it’s still safer to be buckled in regardless of where you’re sitting
Oklahoma: Children 12 and under are required to wear seat belts in the back seats
Oregon: Everyone is required to wear a seat belt in a moving RV
Pennsylvania: Children under 18 are required to wear seat belts in the back seats
Rhode Island: Everyone is required to wear a seat belt in a moving RV
South Carolina: Everyone is required to wear a seat belt in a moving RV
Tennessee: Children under 16 are required to wear seat belts in the back seats
Texas: Children 17 and under are required to wear seat belts in the back seats
Utah: Everyone is required to wear a seat belt in a moving RV
Vermont: Everyone is required to wear a seat belt in a moving RV
Virginia: Children 16 and under are required to wear seat belts in the back seats
Washington: Everyone is required to wear a seat belt in a moving RV
West Virginia: Children 17 and under are required to wear seat belts in the back seats
Wisconsin: Children 15 and under are required to wear seat belts in the back seats
Wyoming: Everyone is required to wear a seat belt in a moving RV
RV Seat Belt Requirements for Minors
As noted above, many RV seat belt requirements are based on the age of the children in your vehicle. Make sure that each child is properly restrained according to state laws, and younger children should be in carseats.
If you intend to carry children in your RV, always remember that child safety restraint systems should never be used in any rear-facing or bench-like seating. Here are more tips on traveling with a carseat in your RV.
Although the above lists the laws for children wearing seat belts in each state, the safest practice is to have everyone buckle up when your RV is in use. Seat belt laws represent the bare minimum of safety standards and are sometimes influenced by things like whether legislators think they can enforce these laws, and how willing people will be to follow them. Safety is only one of their considerations when passing the laws.
Alternatives for keeping your children safe
There are a few other ideas to keep your children safe while you travel.
- Choose a non-motorized tow-able like a teardrop camper or fifth-wheel trailer, as this is safer than a coach. Children can be restrained properly in the passenger vehicle that is towing the RV.
- If using a coach, drive a second car for the children to ride in, so that the children are restrained properly. This has the added bonus of giving you a vehicle to travel around your destination once you’ve set up your motorhome.
- Have custom seats built into your RV that meet federal seat belt standards, for strapping your children in.
RV seat belt standards according to Class of RV
Whether you have a Class A, Class C, or Class B RV, keep in mind that, manufacturers are ONLY required to comply with seat belt standards for the front passengers, not any rear occupants that may be traveling in the rig.
False sense of security
Many RV seats have lap belts in the dining section of the RV. Though these seat belts are usually bolted to the floor, the biggest concern with these belts is that the wooden seat structure, on which the passenger is sitting, will fail and cause injury, in the event of an accident. Furniture and appliances all around the RV can also fall over the passenger trapped in the seating.
Remember sideways seats are not designated travel seats. Front-facing seats are the safest to travel in. Also, keep in mind that each manufacturer has different ways of testing their seat belts and there are no defined industry standards for these tests.
With a little research, you can be sure that you’re complying with the state laws for seatbelts and safe RV travel in each state!
What do you think?