Seat belts, child seats and phone laws in Maryland

By the end of this topic you can

• You can explain who must wear a seat belt in Maryland.
• You can choose the right restraint for a child passenger.
• You can state the phone rules for drivers under 18 and for adults.
• You can name common distractions and how to avoid them.
• You can explain the earphone rule.

What you need to know and understand

• The driver and all passengers must wear a seat belt or be in a child safety seat.
• Children under 8 must ride in a child safety seat unless they are 4 feet 9 inches or taller.
• Children under 2 must ride rear-facing until they reach the seat maker's height or weight limit.
• Children under 13 should ride in the back seat.
• Drivers under 18 may not use any wireless device while driving, even hands-free, except to call 911.
• No driver may text while driving in the travel portion of the road.
• Adults may not hold a phone while driving. Fines start at up to $75 for a first offense.
• You may not drive wearing earphones or earplugs in both ears. Hearing aids are allowed.

Buckling up everyone

Every person in the car must be restrained. The driver is responsible for everyone under 16. Passengers 16 and older are responsible for themselves, and police enforce the rear-seat rule only when they have stopped the car for another reason. A seat belt fine can be up to $50.

If you hold a provisional license and are under 18, your license itself carries a seat belt restriction: you may not drive unless you and every passenger are buckled.

Child seats

• Under 2: rear-facing child seat, following the maker's limits.
• Under 8: child safety seat or booster unless the child is 4 feet 9 inches or taller.
• Under 16: child seat or seat belt.
• Under 13: ride in the back seat. Never put a rear-facing seat in front of an active passenger air bag.
• Install seats exactly as the seat and vehicle makers instruct. Help with low-cost seats is available through the Kids In Safety Seats program.

Phones and other distractions

Under 18, on a permit or provisional license, you may not use any phone while driving, hands-free included, except for a 911 call. A violation can lead to a suspension of up to 90 days. At 18 or older on a permit or provisional license, you still may not use a handheld phone.

Fully licensed adults may only use a phone hands-free, and texting while driving is banned for everyone. Handheld phone fines rise to $125 and then $175 for repeat offenses. Eating, adjusting music or GPS, and passengers can be just as distracting. Our guide to Maryland phone laws for new drivers goes deeper.

Common mistakes

• Letting a back-seat passenger skip the belt. Everyone must be buckled, and under 18 on a provisional license it breaks your restriction.
• Moving a child to a seat belt alone too early. Under 8, they need a child seat unless they are 4 feet 9 inches or taller.
• Using hands-free calling as a 17-year-old. Under 18, all phone use is banned except 911.
• Setting the GPS while moving. Program it before you start.

Test yourself: Seat belts, child seats and phone laws in Maryland

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Maryland Cell Phone Law for Teen and Provisional Drivers
• Maryland Permit Practice Test
• How to Get a Driver’s License in Maryland