A 3-minute lesson from the New Jersey course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
In a crash your car stops, but your body keeps moving at the speed you were going. A seat belt holds you in place so you can keep control and stay inside the vehicle. New Jersey requires everyone in a passenger vehicle to buckle up.
Know the rule
The driver and all passengers of a passenger vehicle (car, van, pickup truck, SUV) must wear a seat belt.
Hitting the dashboard or windshield at 30 mph is like falling from the top of a three-story building. Belts slow your body down with the vehicle and keep you from sliding on the seat.
You're 17, driving your 19-year-old cousin in the front seat and your 15-year-old brother in back. If your brother is unbuckled, you get the ticket. If your cousin is unbuckled, the ticket is his.
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.
Under New Jersey law, who is responsible for ensuring passengers under age 18 wear seat belts?
Each individual passenger, regardless of age
Only a parent if present in the vehicle
The driver
No one; it's not required for passengers
Answer: The driver
The driver is responsible for all passengers under age 18 wearing seat belts.
Which of the following is listed as an exemption from New Jersey's seat belt law?
Any vehicle over five years old
Any pickup truck
Vehicles driven under 25 mph
A car built before July 1, 1966
Answer: A car built before July 1, 1966
Exemptions include a passenger vehicle manufactured before July 1, 1966, one not required to have seat belts under federal law, or a documented medical reason.