Important things you need to know about rv seatbelt laws

Free-spirited individuals often get bogged down by life and struggle to break free. Many heed the siren call of life on the road and invest in a suitable diesel motor home for sale where each one promises to offer an incredible sense of freedom, boasting qualities like the ability to drive to scenic destinations, pursue a minimal lifestyle, and embark on daily adventures. But ‘freedom’ does not mean risk, and RV-ers must take safety measures seriously. According to the CDC, out of the 22,441 motor vehicle crash fatalities in 2015, more than half of teens and adults were unrestrained at the time of the crash. That’s why seatbelt use is so important – it prevents injuries and saves lives. Plus, there’s a legal component as well, where people can get in trouble if they’re not buckled up in certain states. Check out more details on RV seatbelt laws below.

Different States, Different Rules

RV seatbelt laws vary from one state to another, as do the fines associated with them. Though most states charge you a minimal amount for not wearing your seatbelts, you may have to pay as much as $200 for breaking the law in a few states. States like Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Alabama, New York, Ohio and Texas require only people in the front seats to put on their seatbelts. But in other areas like Washington, California, Kentucky, Georgia, and Utah, the law is that all passengers aboard the RV must put on their seatbelts, irrespective of where they are inside the RV.

Seatbelt Usage Inside the RV

If the rear cabin of your motor home features some seats, they are legally not required to meet Federal safety standards. Plus, RV-ers must avoid using seatbelts when they are sitting in a reclining position. Why? Because in the event of a head-on collision, the belt might decapitate the user. Ideally, seatbelts should always be present on forward-facing furniture. It is not a good idea to place them on side-facing sofas and similar other seating arrangements.

Misconceptions about RV Seatbelt Laws

RV-ers can sit anywhere inside their motor home. But the problem is, not all areas of the RV are safe to ride. If a passenger wishes to move about the vehicle while it’s rolling down the highway, they should first check the state laws to remain seatbelt compliant. Unfortunately, some people think that these rules go against the whole ‘fun’ aspect of RV-ing. Others believe that seatbelts are meant only for the driver and the passenger beside the driver since some manufacturers include seatbelts in the front seats alone.

The truth is, seatbelt safety is no different in motor homes than it is in automobiles. And the safest option is to buckle-up while the coach is in motion. If there are not enough seatbelts inside a pre-owned RV, owners can simply install more to protect everyone aboard the motor home. They can install the seatbelts themselves or get a specialist to do the job. Either way, they must purchase products that have good reviews and are reliable.

Many RV-ers take seatbelt use for granted. They assume that the large size of the diesel motor home they bought on sale would protect them against road accidents. But that’s not how it works! Just because a person drives safely on the road, doesn’t mean that others will too. So, the best way for both the driver and the passenger to stay safe is to remain strapped in for the duration of the journey.

Jimmy Wright is an avid traveller and an enthused motorhome owner himself with an extensive real time experience of buying, selling, driving and living in Used Class A Motorhomes for Sale.