A 4-minute lesson from the Montana course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
In Montana the driver is responsible for making sure every occupant is buckled or in a child seat. If you crash while belted, your chances of being hurt or killed are greatly reduced.
Know the rule
No one may drive in Montana unless each occupant wears a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt. The law makes the driver responsible for buckling everyone or using a child safety seat.
Vehicles made between January 1, 1965 and January 1, 1968 must have seatbelts for the left and right front seats; vehicles made after January 1, 1968, for every designated seat.
With a two-part belt, wear both the lap belt and the shoulder belt. With an automatic shoulder belt, buckle the lap belt too, or you could slide out in a crash.
Happens when a child is left in a hot vehicle and body temperature rises fast. Heatstroke begins at a core temperature of about 104°F; about 107°F is lethal.
You're driving your 5-year-old nephew, who weighs 45 pounds, and two teenage cousins. The nephew rides in a child safety seat, ideally in the back. Check that both teens buckle up — if anyone isn't buckled, you, the driver, get the $20 fine.
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.
What is the fine for a driver who violates Montana's seatbelt law?
$10
$20
$50
$100
Answer: $20
A driver who violates the seatbelt law is fined $20.