Regardless of your age, I’m sure many of you have experienced first hand how much fun it is to ride in the back of a pickup truck bed. Granted, truck beds are meant for cargo, not people, so there is an element of danger in this type of recreational fun.
For many country folk and farm workers, bouncing along in the cargo bed of a pickup is as common as riding a motorcycle. But what types of hazards could be experienced that could make this activity downright unsafe? Since there are no seat belts within the cargo bed, minor bumps or unexpected swerving can result in injuries or even being thrown out of the pickup bed without warning if the driver has to suddenly step on the brakes. If this were to happen, it could result in fatality. Children riding in a covered pickup bed risk being exposed to carbon monoxide, which could result in headaches, dizziness and possibly death with long exposure times. On a highway, the obvious things that make riding in a truck bed unsafe would be vehicle crashes, either from other cars or wild animals that cause accidents by running in front of your moving truck. On a country road, there could be ruts in the dirt or large rocks or tree limbs on the road that you may come upon suddenly causing you to lose control of your truck. You may be buckled in safely but anyone in the back of that truck bed is potentially in danger more so than the driver.
The government has stepped in with laws that vary from state to state, but has made it illegal to ride in the back of a pickup truck in 30 states. 20 States have no laws at all prohibiting riding in the cargo bed. Most of these states have vast areas of rural living where pickup trucks are used for work use and include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, S. Dakota, Vermont, Washington, W. Virginia and Wyoming.
Other states that do have laws are mostly directed toward the safety of children, some extending the age to include up at age 19. Colorado has the most lenient law allowing truck bed riding by passengers as long as all riders are seated and the bed is enclosed on all four sides, so no dangling of the legs off the tailgate. Many states will allow bed riders over the age of 18, while other states allow it with restrictions such as length of the trip and age of passengers. It is absolutely illegal to ride in a house or travel trailer while it is travelling down the highway, so it only makes sense that in an open truck bed, the risk is even more prominent, and is therefore protecting the passengers by the use of restrictions and laws.
What exceptions are allowed for riding in an open pickup bed? According to the state of Texas law, persons under the age of 18 are allowed in the back of the open truck when driving on the beach, to transport farm workers from one field to another, when being used during a parade or in the case of an emergency, when the pickup truck is the only vehicle the family owns, when the truck trailer is used as a hayride and only if local law enforcement approves. These laws are designed for safety, not to put a damper on your fun. Severe injury or death would not be fun for anyone involved.
Beware Of This When Buying A Used Pickup Truck
Of course a shiny brand new truck is a thrill for any truck lover, but if your wallet can’t deal with a big monthly payment and you still need a pickup for work or just because you want one, use the following tips to prevent getting yourself a lemon or having to sink crazy dollars into the truck right after you buy it because the seller misrepresented the vehicle.
New Year – New Truck? Top Four Best Pickups
If you are like everyone else, you may have made a resolution last New Years that you didn’t keep, which may have been to take better care of your old pickup. The up side to that is that you may be in the market for a new truck to start the New Year. Here is what the manufacturers are claiming to be the top four choices in brand new pickup trucks for 2017.
Plowing Snow With Your Pickup Truck
There is no denying that snow season has arrived. If you’re a truck owner with a snow plow, as much as you may dread all the inches of white stuff, you have to admit there is a certain appeal to the flashing strobe lights, the whine of hydraulics and the sound of steel dragging on the pavement. At times it might feel like you are playing with your favorite toy, but there is no mistaking the price and value of that toy, hence you had better know how to use it wisely and make it last. If you are new to plowing or purchasing a plow for the first time, I think you will find my information regarding features and options valuable.
