The legality of riding in the bed of a pickup truck has been a topic of debate for years, and it is still illegal in many states. The law governing this issue varies from state to state, but the general consensus is that it is a potentially dangerous practice and should be avoided.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) first issued safety rules regarding riding in the back of a pickup truck in 1973. The NHTSA declared that riding in the open bed of a pickup truck was an unsafe practice and recommended that passengers should sit in the cab instead. However, due to its popularity as an alternative means of transportation for lower-income individuals, many states did not enforce the regulation.
In 2000, the NHTSA issued stricter regulations on open-bed vehicles, which stated that all passengers must be secured by seatbelts or other approved restraints while riding in a pickup truck. This was done to reduce the risk of injury caused by sudden stops or accidents. The regulations were updated again in 2006 to include more specific requirements for securing passengers and preventing them from falling out of open-bed vehicles.
Since then, most states have adopted these regulations into their own laws. In many states, it is illegal for any passenger to ride in an open-bed vehicle unless they are securely fastened by seatbelts or other approved restraints. This includes children as well as adults; some states even have age restrictions on who can ride in an open-bed vehicle.
When Did It Become Illegal To Ride In The Back Of A Pickup Truck?
Riding in the back of a pickup truck became illegal when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued stricter regulations on open-bed vehicles in 2000 and 2006. These regulations stated that all passengers must be secured by seatbelts or other approved restraints while riding in an open-bed vehicle, and most states have adopted these regulations into their own laws since then. As a result, it is now illegal for any passenger to ride in an open-bed vehicle unless they are securely fastened by seatbelts or other approved restraints across most states.
Conclusion: Riding in the back of a pickup truck has been an unsafe practice since 1973 when it was first declared so by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but it was not until 2000 and 2006 when they issued stricter regulations on open-bed vehicles that it became illegal across most states today. As such, all passengers must be securely fastened by seatbelts or other approved restraints while riding in an open-bed vehicle to ensure their safety and avoid any legal consequences
