Safety belts, child restraints and air bags

Key points

1. All passengers in front and back seats of cars, vans and pickups must be buckled.

   Source: Handbook p. 39

   “Louisiana has a mandatory safety belt use law which requires all passengers in both the front and back seats in cars, vans and pickup trucks to be properly buckled.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 39

2. Safety belts reduce the risk of serious injury by 50 percent and of death by 50 percent.

   Source: Handbook p. 39

   “People who wear safety belts reduce their risk of serious injury by 50 percent and also reduce the risk of fatalities by 50 percent.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 39

3. 75% of crashes happen within 25 miles of home, and unbelted deaths have occurred as low as 12 mph.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “75% of crashes occur within 25 miles of home. Your chances of being killed are 25 times greater if you're thrown from the car. Non-belted fatalities have been recorded at speeds as low as 12 mph.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 40

4. Birth to at least 2 years rear facing, 2 to 4 forward facing, and 4 to 9 in a booster seat.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “Birth to at least 2 years rear facing, federally approved car seat 2-4 years forward facing, federally approved car seat 4-9 years booster seat with restraints”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 40

5. Children younger than 13 ride in the rear seat when available.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “Younger than 13 years ride in the rear seat of a vehicle, when available and properly restrained”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 40

6. Air bags deploy at 150 to 200 miles per hour.

   Source: Handbook p. 41

   “the air bag, when it deploys, comes out at speeds of 150 to 200 miles per hour.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 41

7. With air bags, the recommended hand positions are 9 and 3 or 8 and 4.

   Source: Handbook p. 41

   “The recommended positions are 9 and 3 or 8 and 4.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 41

8. Sit at least 10 inches from a steering wheel with an air bag.

   Source: Handbook p. 41

   “Sit at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel equipped with an air bag”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 41

9. Children 12 and under should sit in the back seat.

   Source: Handbook p. 41

   “Older, frail persons and children 12 and under should sit in the back seat.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 41

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Louisiana practice test

1. 1. What share of crashes occur within 25 miles of home, and at what speed have unbelted fatalities been recorded, according to the Louisiana guide?

   1. 75 percent within 25 miles, with unbelted deaths at speeds as low as 12 mph
   2. 10 percent, at speeds over 60 mph
   3. 50 percent, at 30 mph
   4. 90 percent, at 5 mph
   Show answer

   75 percent within 25 miles, with unbelted deaths at speeds as low as 12 mph. Seventy five percent of crashes occur within 25 miles of home, and non belted fatalities have been recorded at speeds as low as 12 mph, so the belt matters on the shortest trips. A marble stops more easily than a bowling ball, and an unbelted body keeps moving at the car's speed until something stops it. Pregnant drivers are safer belted as well.

2. 2. How fast does an air bag deploy, according to the Louisiana guide?

   1. 150 to 200 miles per hour
   2. 10 miles per hour
   3. 50 miles per hour
   4. 500 miles per hour
   Show answer

   150 to 200 miles per hour. An air bag deploys at speeds of 150 to 200 miles per hour, which is why older frail persons and children 12 and under should sit in the back seat and why an on off switch exists to disable the passenger bag when a child must ride in front. Air bags are a supplementary restraint; the seat belt is the primary one. Hold the wheel at 9 and 3 or 8 and 4.

3. 3. What hand positions does the Louisiana guide recommend on the steering wheel?

   1. 10 and 2 at all times
   2. 12 and 6
   3. 9 and 3 or 8 and 4, with 12 o'clock only while backing
   4. One hand at 12
   Show answer

   9 and 3 or 8 and 4, with 12 o'clock only while backing. The recommended positions are 9 and 3 or 8 and 4, which keep the arms clear of a deploying air bag and give balanced control. The only time 12 o'clock is recommended is when backing to the left or right and the driver must turn in the seat to see the path, and there is little need to reposition the hands during almost all open road driving.

Source: the Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Chapter 4: Basic Driving and Safety. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.