Although you have the option of sitting anywhere in your motor home--from the kitchen table to a couch--this doesn't mean it's safe to do so while you are on the road. Seat belt laws and other regulations apply to motor homes, also called mobile homes or recreational vehicles (RVs), according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Laws vary from state to state, so you should do your own research on specific regulations. Generally speaking, though, it is always a good idea to strap in.
Many states require only people sitting in the front seat of an RV to wear seat belts. These states are: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Some states require all passengers in RVs to use proper restraints regardless of where they are seated within the vehicle. These states are: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.
Many states have restrictions on who has to use seat belts while seated in the rear section of an RV. These regulations are based on the age of the passenger. Passengers of the following ages in the following states must be properly restrained, which includes the use of child seats for young children: ages 5 to 15 in Arizona; ages 4 to 16 in Connecticut; ages 6 to 17 in Florida; ages 4 to 17 in Hawaii; ages 6 to 17 in Georgia; ages 8 to 15 in Illinois; ages 4 to 11 in Indiana; ages 4 to 14 in Kansas; ages 6 to 12 in Louisiana; ages 4 to 15 in Michigan; ages 4 to 10 in Minnesota; ages 4 to 10 in Mississippi; ages 4 to 15 in Missouri; ages 4 to 18 in Nebraska; ages 8 to 17 in New Jersey; ages 15 and under in New York; ages 15 and under in North Carolina; ages 7 to 17 in North Dakota; ages 6 to 12 in Oklahoma; ages 8 to 17 in Pennsylvania; ages 18 and under in South Dakota; ages 16 and under in Tennessee; ages 17 and under in Texas; ages 16 and under in Virginia; ages 17 and under in West Virginia; and ages 4 to 15 in Wisconsin.
