Virginia Driver's Manual Section 4 PDF

Traffic Stops If you are stopped by a police officer:  Remain calm.  Pull your vehicle to the side of the road in a safe location and park. Section 4: Seat Belts, Air Bags and Child Safety Seats  Turn on your flashers.  If you are pulled over at night, turn on your vehicle’s interior lights. ...

Traffic Stops If you are stopped by a police officer:  Remain calm.  Pull your vehicle to the side of the road in a safe location and park. Section 4: Seat Belts, Air Bags and Child Safety Seats  Turn on your flashers.  If you are pulled over at night, turn on your vehicle’s interior lights.  Turn off your engine, radio, and any other device that could block communication with the officer.  Roll down your window so that you can communicate with the officer. An officer may approach your vehicle on the driver or passenger side for safety reasons.  Keep your safety belt fastened and ask your passengers to keep their belts fastened.  Stay in your vehicle. Do not get out unless the officer asks you to.  Keep your hands in plain view, preferably on the steering wheel. Ask your passengers to keep their hands in plain view also. In this section you’ll learn about:  Do not make any movement that will make the officer think you are hiding or reaching for something.  Seat belts  Carry proper identification: a valid driver’s license, proof of vehicle registration and proof of insurance. If the officer asks for these documents, tell him where they are and reach for them slowly, keeping one hand on the steering wheel.  Child safety seats  If the officer is driving an unmarked car or is not in uniform, you may ask to see his or her identification.  Answer the officer’s questions fully and clearly. If you disagree with the officer, do not discuss your point of view at that time. You will have your chance to make your case in court.  You will be asked to sign the citation. Sign the citation; this is not an admission of guilt. Refusal to sign the citation may result in your arrest. Or, you may be required to go to the police station.  Air bags Wearing seat belts, also called safety belts, can double your chances of surviving a crash and more than double your chances of avoiding serious injury. Seat Belts Under Virginia law, the driver and all front seat passengers must wear safety belts. A driver transporting anyone younger than age 18 must ensure that the passenger is properly secured in a safety belt, booster seat or child safety seat no matter where the child is seated in the vehicle. Remember to wear your lap belt low on your lap and against your thighs. Wear your shoulder belt over your shoulder and across your chest. Never wear your shoulder belt behind your back or under your arm. Your shoulder and lap belts should be snug. Pregnant women are much safer if buckled up by wearing the belt as low on the pelvis as possible. Exception: A waiver of the seat belt requirement may be granted by a licensed physician if the use of a safety belt is not reasonable due to the driver’s or passenger’s physical or medical condition. The person granted the waiver must carry the physician’s signed written statement identifying the person with the waiver and the reason for the waiver. V I R G I N I A D R I V E R ’ S M A N U A L | 25 Section 4: Seat Belts, Air Bags and Child Safety Seats Air Bags Air bags, when used properly with safety belts, cushion drivers and passengers as they move forward in a front-end crash. By providing a cushion, the air bag keeps the head, neck and chest from hitting the steering column or dashboard, and reduces the force of impact. If your vehicle is equipped with air bags:  Always buckle up and have all passengers in the vehicle buckle up.  Move your seat back so that you are at least ten inches from the steering wheel.  If your steering wheel is adjustable, tilt it downward. This points the air bag toward your chest instead of your head and neck.  Children ages 12 and under are safer buckled up in the back seat. For more information about air bags, including applying for an on/off switch, contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at www.nhtsa.dot.gov or toll-free hotline at 1-800-424-9393. Child Safety Seats Securing a child in a correctly installed child safety seat can significantly reduce the possibility of death or injury. All children under age 8 must be properly secured in a child safety seat or booster seat when riding in vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1968. Children should ride rear facing from birth to 2 years, or as long as the safety seat manufacturer allows. If the vehicle does not have a back seat, a rear facing child seat may be placed in the front passenger seat if the vehicle is not equipped with a passenger side air bag or if the passenger air bag is turned off. Children should ride facing forward in a child safety seat or booster seat until at least age 8, or until they can attain a proper seat belt fit. Criteria for sitting without a booster seat:  Lap belt lies snugly across the upper thighs  Shoulder belt lies snugly across the shoulder and chest  Tall enough to sit without slouching  Able to keep knees naturally bent over the edge of the vehicle seat  Able to sit all the way back against the vehicle seat back  Able to keep feet flat on the floor  Able to sit this way for entire trip 26 | V I R G I N I A D R I V E R ’ S M A N U A L A waiver of the child restraint law may be granted by a licensed physician if using a child restraint would be unreasonable due to the child’s weight, physical fitness or other medical reasons. The person responsible for transporting this child must carry the signed written statement by the physician identifying the child and stating the grounds for the waiver. The driver is responsible for making sure that children are properly secured. If you are convicted of violating the child restraint law, you will be fined $50. A second or subsequent offense could mean a $500 penalty. When traveling with children:  The safest place to install a child safety seat is in the center of the back seat.  Numerous child safety seat checks are held in localities across Virginia. Attend one of these checks to make sure that your child’s safety seat is installed correctly. Visit www.vdh.virginia.gov for more information.  Never hold a child in your lap. In a crash, the child may be crushed between your body and the dashboard or the back of the seat.  Make sure that all car doors are securely closed and locked before driving. If your car is equipped with a child safety lock, turn it on. Don’t allow children to play with door handles or locks. If you must open a door, pull the vehicle off the road and come to a complete stop.  Never allow children to ride in the luggage area of hatchbacks, station wagons or vans.  Never leave a hatchback open when a child is riding in the back seat.  It is illegal to transport children under age 16 in the bed of a pickup truck, even if equipped with a camper shell.