State law regarding truck bed riders lax

By Dale Liesch (Contact) | Alex City Outlook

Originally published 10:14 p.m., June 30, 2009
Updated 10:26 p.m., June 30, 2009

It may not be against the law in most cases, but authorities do not recommend carrying passengers in the bed of a truck.

Alabama seat belt and child restraint laws do not cover passengers in a truck bed under most circumstances, according to Alabama State Trooper Cpl. Jason Black.

Black said the seat belt law only applies to passengers in the front seats of a vehicle. However, passengers under the age of 15 are required to wear a seatbelt under child restraint laws.

“We do recommend that passengers wear seatbelts while in the back seat of a vehicle,” Black said. “The back seat can be just as dangerous as the front. We do not recommend that passengers ride in the bed of a truck.”

Alexander City Police Chief Charles Rafford said he thinks riding in the bed or the cargo area of a truck should be illegal.

“Riding in the bed of a truck exponentially increases the chances of an injury in a collision,” Rafford said. “It exponentially increases the chances of death if a truck rolls over in a collision. I think it’s a very hazardous way to ride.”

Rafford said it is much more hazardous than riding in the front of a vehicle because there is no protection of any kind for a passenger.

“I highly recommend against riding in the bed of a truck,” Rafford said. “There is no protection.”

While Alabama has no law regarding passengers in cargo areas of trucks some neighboring states like Florida and Georgia do, according to a report released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Georgia law does not cover people 18 and older, people 17 and younger in trucks with covered cargo areas or any pickup truck off the interstate.

Florida’s law does not apply to anyone over the age of 18 or persons 17 and younger in an enclosed cargo area. The law also does not apply to persons 17 and younger on non-limited access roads or if a truck has a seat fitted with a safety belt. Employees on duty are also exempt from the law.

Rafford said drivers can do several things to protect passengers if they must ride in the cargo area of a truck, but added that a passenger “always stands a risk” when riding in the bed of a truck.

Drivers need to slow down and use the right lane of a multi-lane road when carrying passengers in a truck bed, according to Rafford. Drivers can also avoid making any sudden starts or stops with passengers in the back.

“Always use extreme caution when carrying passengers in the back of a truck,” Rafford said. “

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