Safety belts and child restraints — Alabama Permit Test

Alabama's safety belt law requires every occupant, regardless of age, to be restrained, and the belt should be drawn snugly across the hip bones.

A belt low and tight across the hips holds the body by its strongest bones in a crash.

Alabama’s safety belt law requires that each occupant, regardless of age, be restrained.

Alabama's child restraint law requires children through age 15 to be restrained when riding in motor vehicles, and violators have points assessed against their record in addition to a fine.

Children cannot choose to buckle up for themselves, so the driver answers for it.

Alabama’s child restraint law requires that children through age 15 must be restrained when riding in motor vehicles in Alabama.

An infant rides in an infant-only seat or a convertible seat facing the rear until at least 1 year of age or 20 pounds.

Facing the rear spreads crash forces across a baby's back, protecting a neck too weak to hold its head.

Infant-only seat or convertible seat used in the rear-facing position until an infant is at least 1 year of age or 20 pounds.

A child rides in a convertible seat in the forward position, or a forward-facing seat, until at least 5 years of age or 40 pounds.

A harness holds a small child at the shoulders and hips, where an adult belt would not fit.

Convertible seat in the forward position or forward-facing seat until a child is at least 5 years of age or 40 pounds.

A child rides in a booster seat until 6 years of age, and then wears a seat belt until 15.

A booster raises a child so the adult belt crosses the hips and shoulder instead of the belly and neck.

Booster seat until a child is 6 years of age.

The child restraint law covers the front and back seats of passenger cars, pickup trucks, vans seating 10 or fewer, minivans and sport utility vehicles.

A child is at the same risk in any of these vehicles, so the law follows the child into each of them.

The law applies to occupants of front and back seats of passenger cars, pickup trucks, vans (with seating capacity of 10 or fewer), minivans and sport utility vehicles.

Who must wear a safety belt in Alabama?

Every occupant, of any age. A belt low and tight across the hips holds the body by its strongest bones in a crash. Alabama Driver Manual, p.30: “Alabama’s safety belt law requires that each occupant, regardless of age, be restrained.”