In the United States, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to ride in the bed of a pickup truck. This law has been in place since 1978 and is intended to help keep young people safe while on the roadway.
Riding in the bed of a pickup truck can be dangerous due to the lack of protection from flying debris and the risk of falling out. In addition, if an accident were to occur, those riding in the bed would be at an increased risk for serious injury or death due to their lack of protection.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that no one should ever ride in a vehicle’s bed, regardless of their age. If an adult driver wants to transport passengers who are too young to ride up front (usually age 12 and under), they should use an appropriate child safety seat that meets federal safety standards.
In most states, law enforcement officers have the right to stop vehicles with passengers riding in the bed and issue citations for unsafe driving habits. Not only can this result in hefty fines, but it may also result in points on your driving record if you are found guilty.
Conclusion:
It is illegal for anyone under 18 years old to ride in the bed of a pickup truck. This law is intended to help keep young people safe on the roadway and protect them from potential injury or death due to lack of protection if an accident were to occur. Law enforcement officers may issue citations for unsafe driving habits if they find passengers riding in a vehicle’s bed, so it is best to refrain from allowing anyone younger than 18 years old to do so.
