Seat belts, child seats and vehicle control

Key points

1. The driver and all passengers must wear seat belts, and the driver is responsible for every passenger under 18.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “Under state law, the driver, and all passengers of a passenger vehicle (e.g., car, van, pickup truck, and SUV) must wear a seatbelt. The failure of a driver, frontseat passenger, and children under age 18 to wear a seatbelt is a primary offense. The driver is responsible for all passengers under age 18.”
   New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 40

2. Wearing a seat belt improves your chance of surviving a crash by 60 percent.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “Seat belts can save a life and improve a motorist’s chances of surviving a crash by 60 percent.”
   New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 40

3. Children under 2 and children under 30 pounds must ride in a rear facing seat with a five point harness.

   Source: Handbook p. 42

   “Children under age two and those who weigh less than 30 pounds must ride in a federally approved rear-facing child passenger restraint system that is equipped with a five-point harness.”
   New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 42

4. Children under 8 who are under 57 inches tall must ride in an approved child seat or booster seat.

   Source: Handbook p. 42

   “Children under age eight who are less than 57 inches (4 feet, 9 inches) tall must ride in either: a) A federally approved forward facing child passenger restraint system”
   New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 42

5. All children under 8 must sit in a rear seat when the vehicle has one.

   Source: Handbook p. 43

   “All children under age eight must be seated in a rear seat.”
   New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 43

6. For normal driving, hold the outside of the wheel at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions.

   Source: Handbook p. 51

   “grip the steering wheel by the outside rim at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions”
   New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 51

7. Good brakes should stop the car within 25 feet at 20 mph.

   Source: Handbook p. 45

   “A motorist should be able to stop within 25 feet at 20 mph.”
   New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 45

8. With anti lock brakes (ABS), press with steady pressure and never pump the brakes or jerk the wheel.

   Source: Handbook p. 45

   “the brakes can be tested by applying steady pressure to the brake pedal. A motorist should never pump an ABS or jerk the steering wheel when braking.”
   New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 45

9. Back up slowly, at about walking speed of 2 to 4 mph.

   Source: Handbook p. 55

   “walking speed (2 to 4 mph). The motorist should not turn forward until the vehicle is totally stopped.”
   New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 55

10. New Jersey limits idling to 3 minutes or less.

    Source: Handbook p. 50

    “New Jersey law requires all motorists to restrict vehicle idling to three minutes or less.”
    New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 50

Numbers to know

3 questions from the New Jersey practice test

1. 1. What restraint is required for a New Jersey child under age two who weighs less than 30 pounds?

   1. A federally approved rear-facing restraint with a five-point harness
   2. An adult lap belt only in the front seat
   3. A forward-facing seat without a harness
   4. No restraint when accompanied by a parent
   Show answer

   A federally approved rear-facing restraint with a five-point harness. For a child under age two who weighs less than 30 pounds, New Jersey requires a federally approved rear-facing child passenger restraint equipped with a five-point harness. A lap belt alone and an unrestrained ride provide no approved child system. A forward-facing seat describes a different stage and does not match this age and weight condition. Read the two thresholds together, then choose the rear-facing harnessed restraint rather than relying on the adult belt system.

2. 2. Where must children under age eight generally ride in a New Jersey vehicle?

   1. In the front seat beside the driver
   2. On an adult passenger's lap
   3. Anywhere if the vehicle is moving slowly
   4. In a rear seat
   Show answer

   In a rear seat. New Jersey's child passenger safety law requires all children under age eight to be seated in a rear seat. If the vehicle has no rear seat, the child must instead be secured in an approved restraint or booster in the front seat. An adult's lap and a slow-moving trip do not replace the required restraint location. Check whether a rear seat exists, then use the appropriate federally approved child passenger system.

3. 3. Which hand position does the New Jersey manual recommend for normal steering?

   1. 11 and 1 o'clock
   2. 6 and 12 o'clock
   3. One hand at the top of the wheel
   4. 9 and 3 o'clock
   Show answer

   9 and 3 o'clock. For normal driving, New Jersey recommends gripping the outside rim at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions, with the thumbs along the face of the wheel. That placement reduces the chance of hand, wrist, or arm injury if an air bag deploys. The other positions either move both hands away from the recommended side locations or remove one hand from the wheel. Think of the wheel as a clock and place the hands at the horizontal numbers.

Source: the New Jersey Driver Manual, Chapter 3: Driver Responsibility. 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.