Is Riding In a Truck Bed Legal In Indiana?

If you grew up in Indiana during the ‘70s, ‘80s, or even the ‘90s, there’s a pretty good chance you spent at least one summer ride sitting in the back of a pickup truck. For a lot of us, it was just part of growing up. Piling into the truck bed with friends felt completely normal back then.

Of course, times have changed. What once seemed like harmless fun now raises a lot more safety concerns, especially for parents. Looking back, many Hoosiers probably realize those rides were a little riskier than we thought at the time.

Is Riding In A Pickup Bed Illegal In Indiana?

That leads to an interesting question: Is it actually legal to ride in the bed of a pickup truck in Indiana? The answer is a little more complicated than you might expect.

Indiana doesn’t have a law that specifically says people cannot ride in the back of a pickup truck. So, in that sense, it’s not outright illegal. However, there’s an important catch. Indiana law DOES require passengers in moving vehicles to be properly restrained with seat belts.

Indiana Seat Belt Laws Explained

Most truck beds are not equipped with seat belts, which means passengers riding back there are not properly restrained, which is a ticketable offense. But who gets the ticket for a seatbelt violation? Passengers over the age of 16 will receive the ticket. The driver, however, will receive the ticket for passengers under the age of 16.

Regardless of the Law, It's Still Unsafe

Beyond the legal side of things, safety is really the biggest concern. Riding in the bed of a pickup leaves passengers exposed with very little protection if the driver has to stop suddenly or if an accident happens. Even a small bump or sharp turn could cause someone to lose balance and get seriously hurt.

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Those old summer truck-bed rides may bring back some great memories for many Indiana adults, but it’s probably one tradition that’s better left in the past. Nostalgia is fun, but staying safe is even better.