Roadwise States Colorado Driving lessons Seat belts & child restraints Colorado driving lesson · Seat Belts & Impaired Driving
Seat belts & child restraints A 3-minute lesson from the Colorado course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Seat Belts & Impaired Driving
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 6 Colorado's seat belt law covers the people most likely to be hurt in a crash: the driver, front-seat riders and kids. Child seat rules depend on both age and weight, and when no parent is in the car, the driver is responsible for getting each child buckled in correctly.
A fastened seat belt is required (in vehicles with factory-equipped belts, on public roads) for: The driver Front seat passengers Children under 16 Handbook p. 6 ↗ The only exceptions: Emergency personnel Passenger buses and school buses Farm equipment Delivery van drivers while on the job A physician's written statement that you're not physically or psychologically required to wear one Handbook p. 6 ↗ Know the rule
If a parent is not in the vehicle, the driver must make sure each child is properly fastened into an appropriate child restraint system.
Handbook p. 6 ↗ Know the rule
Passengers in a vehicle driven by anyone younger than 18 must be properly restrained or wear seat belts.
Handbook p. 6 ↗ Know the rule
A driver younger than 18 may not carry more passengers than there are seat belts.
Handbook p. 6 ↗ Know the rule
It is unlawful to possess an open container of alcohol or of marijuana in the passenger area of a motor vehicle on a public road.
Handbook p. 6 ↗ Put it into practice
You're babysitting and driving a 5-year-old who weighs 45 pounds. With no parent in the car, it's on you: the child must be in a child restraint system or booster seat in the rear seat, since one is available.
A useful reminder Read child seat questions for both numbers: age sets the row in the table, but weight (20 lb or 40 lb) decides which seat applies.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
Colorado's seat belt law requires a fastened seat belt for the driver, front seat passengers, and which other group? Rear seat passengers over 18 only Children under 16 All passengers of any age Passengers over 65 Answer: Children under 16
The law requires seat belts for the driver, front seat passengers, and children under 16.
Handbook p. 6 ↗ Which of these is an exception to Colorado's seat belt requirement? Anyone driving under 10 mph Drivers over age 65 Anyone with a learner's permit A delivery driver on the job Answer: A delivery driver on the job
Delivery van drivers on the job are listed as one of the specific exceptions to the seat belt law.
Handbook p. 6 ↗ A child less than 2 years old and weighing less than 40 pounds must be secured in what type of restraint? A booster seat in the front seat A forward-facing seat in any seating position Rear-facing, in the rear seat A regular seat belt Answer: Rear-facing, in the rear seat
Children under 2 years old weighing less than 40 pounds must be properly secured in a rear-facing child restraint system in the rear seat.
Handbook p. 6 ↗ A child who is 5 years old and weighs 45 pounds should generally be secured in what? Child restraint or booster seat in the rear seat A rear-facing seat only An adult seat belt in the front seat A lap belt in any seat Answer: Child restraint or booster seat in the rear seat
Children 4 but less than 9 years old weighing at least 40 pounds must be in a child restraint or booster seat in the rear seat, if available.
Handbook p. 6 ↗ Who is responsible for ensuring a child is properly fastened in a restraint system if a parent is not in the vehicle? The driver The oldest passenger The child themselves No one; it's optional without a parent present Answer: The driver
If a parent is not in the vehicle, it is the driver's responsibility to ensure each child is properly restrained.
Handbook p. 6 ↗ A driver under 18 is transporting 3 passengers, but the vehicle only has 2 seat belts available for them. Is this legal? Yes, if the driver has held a license for over a year No, passengers can't exceed seat belts Yes, as long as all passengers are wearing some kind of restraint Yes, if the extra passenger sits in the front seat Answer: No, passengers can't exceed seat belts
The number of passengers in a vehicle driven by someone younger than 18 must not exceed the number of seat belts available.
Handbook p. 6 ↗ Previous lesson How you can lose your license Next lesson DUI, DWAI & blood alcohol More in Seat Belts & Impaired Driving About the source Roadwise’s Colorado course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 6. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
For current application requirements, fees, appointments, and the format that applies to your age or license type, check Colorado’s DMV. Roadwise provides study material and does not issue permits or licenses.