Key points
Safety belts are mandatory for all drivers and passengers in every available seat.
Source: Handbook p. 73
“Safety belt use is mandatory in Oregon for all drivers and passengers in all available seating positions.”
Oregon Driver Manual, Handbook p. 73Children ride in approved child seats until age 8 or 4 feet 9 inches tall and the adult belt fits correctly.
Source: Handbook p. 74
“Child passengers must be restrained in approved child safety seats until they are 8 years of age or at least 4 feet 9 inches in height, and the adult lap and shoulder belt fits them correctly.”
Oregon Driver Manual, Handbook p. 74Infants must ride rear facing until age 2.
Source: Handbook p. 74
“Infants must ride rear-facing until they reach two years of age.”
Oregon Driver Manual, Handbook p. 74Drivers under 18 may not use a cell phone or mobile electronic device while driving.
Source: Handbook p. 80
“It is illegal for drivers under 18 years of age to use a cell phone or other mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle.”
Oregon Driver Manual, Handbook p. 80Drivers 18 and older must use a hands free accessory needing only minimal use of a finger.
Source: Handbook p. 80
“Drivers 18 years of age or older must use a hands-free accessory to use a cell phone or other mobile electronic device. The hands-free accessory must only require minimal use of a finger”
Oregon Driver Manual, Handbook p. 80A TV, tablet or other video display visible to the driver is illegal.
Source: Handbook p. 80
“It is illegal to have a TV, tablet or other video display visible to the driver.”
Oregon Driver Manual, Handbook p. 80A sound system heard 50 feet from your vehicle is too loud and illegal.
Source: Handbook p. 80
“It is illegal to play a radio or other sound system so loud it can be heard 50 feet away from your vehicle.”
Oregon Driver Manual, Handbook p. 80No one under 18 may ride on an external part of a vehicle, including a pickup bed.
Source: Handbook p. 84
“Oregon law prohibits anyone under 18 years of age from riding on the hood, fender, running board, or other external part of a vehicle, including a pickup bed.”
Oregon Driver Manual, Handbook p. 84
Numbers to know
| Number | What it means | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | age until which a child seat is required | Handbook p. 74 |
| 4 feet 9 inches | height until which a child seat is required | Handbook p. 74 |
| 2 | age until which infants ride rear facing | Handbook p. 74 |
| 18 | age under which any phone use while driving is illegal | Handbook p. 80 |
| 50 feet | distance at which a loud sound system is illegal | Handbook p. 80 |
3 questions from the Oregon practice test
1. How should an Oregon driver under 18 handle a cell phone while operating a vehicle?
- Use it hands free for navigation
- Turn it off or put it in the back seat and ignore it
- Answer only calls from a parent
- Read messages when stopped at a red light
Show answer
Turn it off or put it in the back seat and ignore it. Oregon prohibits drivers under 18 from using a cell phone or another mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle. The manual's practical advice is to turn the device off or put it in the back seat and ignore it. Hands free navigation, parent calls, and red light messaging all still involve use while operating the vehicle. A driver who needs the phone should finish the driving task and park in a safe place before handling it.
2. How may an Oregon driver 18 or older use a cell phone while driving?
- Only with a hands-free accessory that needs minimal use of a finger to activate
- Held in the hand on rural roads
- Held in the hand while stopped at a light
- Freely, at any age
Show answer
Only with a hands-free accessory that needs minimal use of a finger to activate. Oregon bars drivers under 18 from using a cell phone or other mobile electronic device at all while driving. Drivers 18 or older must use a hands-free accessory, and that accessory must require only minimal use of a finger to activate or deactivate a function. Holding the phone while stopped in traffic still counts as use. Turning the phone off or putting it in the back seat is the manual's advice.
3. How far away must a vehicle's sound system be audible to violate the Oregon manual's noise rule?
- 50 feet from the vehicle
- 25 feet from the vehicle
- 75 feet from the vehicle
- 100 feet from the vehicle
Show answer
50 feet from the vehicle. The manual identifies 50 feet as the distance for this sound system restriction. It is illegal to play a radio or other sound system loud enough to be heard 50 feet away from the vehicle. The point is not only comfort for nearby people; excessive sound can mask horns, screeching tires, and sirens. The 25, 75, and 100 foot choices change the stated distance. Keep the volume low enough to preserve awareness of important sounds around the vehicle.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with laws and paperwork questions from the free Oregon practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
Source: the Oregon Driver Manual, Safe & Responsible Driving: Safety Belts and Distracted Driving. 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.