Michigan: Seat belts & child safety Practice Test
Seat belt law, car seats and booster seats, and children in vehicles.
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "What Every Driver Must Know" (October 2025), Michigan Secretary of State.
Did you know?
- In 1904, the speed limit in Saginaw was 8 mph for cars and 10 mph for bicycles.
- In 1922, the Detroit Police Department began keeping traffic crash statistics.
- In 1945, the first chemical test to identify suspected drunken drivers was administered by the Detroit Police Department.
More background reading from the manual →
All 15 questions in this practice test
Take the test above first, then use this list to study. Tap “Show answer” to see the correct answer and explanation.
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Under Michigan's seat belt law, who is required to be buckled up in the front seat of a vehicle?
- Only the driver
- Only passengers younger than 18
- The driver and all front-seat passengers
- Only passengers seated in the middle
Show answer
Correct answer: The driver and all front-seat passengers
Michigan law requires all front-seat occupants, including the driver, to wear a seat belt.
Source: What Every Driver Must Know (October 2025), page 25 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 25)
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According to Michigan law, in which seating positions must passengers younger than age 16 be buckled up?
- The front seat only
- The rear seat only
- Only on trips longer than 10 miles
- Any seating position in the vehicle
Show answer
Correct answer: Any seating position in the vehicle
All passengers younger than 16 must be buckled up in all seating positions.
Source: What Every Driver Must Know (October 2025), page 25 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 25)
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Under Michigan's child passenger safety law, a child must ride in a car seat or booster seat until reaching which milestone, whichever comes first?
- Age 6 or 4 feet tall, whichever comes first
- Age 10 or 5 feet tall, whichever comes first
- Age 12, regardless of height
- Age 8 or 4 feet 9 inches tall, whichever comes first
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Correct answer: Age 8 or 4 feet 9 inches tall, whichever comes first
A child must stay in a car seat or booster seat until age 8 or 4'9" tall, whichever comes first.
Source: What Every Driver Must Know (October 2025), page 25 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 25)
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A driver who has a medical condition that prevents wearing a seat belt must...
- obtain a waiver from the licensing agency
- carry a doctor's statement
- install seat belt extenders
- post a sign in the vehicle window
Show answer
Correct answer: carry a doctor's statement
Drivers exempt from wearing a seat belt for medical reasons must carry a doctor's statement.
Source: What Every Driver Must Know (October 2025), page 25 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 25)
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While a vehicle is moving, is a parent allowed to remove a child from a car seat to nurse?
- Yes, if the trip is under 10 minutes
- Yes, if another adult is supervising
- No, this is prohibited under Michigan law
- Yes, only on local roads
Show answer
Correct answer: No, this is prohibited under Michigan law
Michigan law prohibits removing a child from a car seat to nurse while the vehicle is moving.
Source: What Every Driver Must Know (October 2025), page 25 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 25)
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If a vehicle has a rear seat, where must children younger than age 4 generally be positioned?
- In the rear seat, if the vehicle has one
- In the front seat with the air bag on
- On a passenger's lap
- Anywhere, as long as an adult is holding them
Show answer
Correct answer: In the rear seat, if the vehicle has one
Children younger than 4 must ride in a rear seat if the vehicle has one; the front seat is allowed only when all rear seats are occupied by children under 4.
Source: What Every Driver Must Know (October 2025), page 25 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 25)
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Under Michigan law, a person younger than 18 is generally prohibited from riding in the open bed of a pickup truck traveling faster than what speed?
- 10 mph
- 25 mph
- 35 mph
- 15 mph
Show answer
Correct answer: 15 mph
Anyone under 18 is prohibited from riding in an open pickup bed traveling more than 15 mph, with limited occupational/parade exceptions.
Source: What Every Driver Must Know (October 2025), page 25 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 25)
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Under Michigan law, leaving a child unattended in a vehicle is illegal, if it poses an unreasonable risk of harm, below what age?
- 4 years
- 6 years
- 8 years
- 10 years
Show answer
Correct answer: 6 years
It is illegal to leave a child younger than 6 unattended in a vehicle without supervision, unless supervised by a non-incapacitated person age 13 or older.
Source: What Every Driver Must Know (October 2025), page 26 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 26)
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A rear-facing child-restraint system may be placed in the front passenger seat only if...
- the child is older than 2
- a parent sits next to the seat
- the front passenger air bag is deactivated
- the vehicle is traveling under 25 mph
Show answer
Correct answer: the front passenger air bag is deactivated
A rear-facing child-restraint system may only go in the front seat if the front passenger air bag has been deactivated.
Source: What Every Driver Must Know (October 2025), page 25 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 25)
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According to the manual, what is the correct way to wear a seat belt?
- Shoulder belt placed behind the back, lap belt across the stomach
- Shoulder belt under the arm, lap belt across the chest
- The lap belt alone is sufficient for adults
- Shoulder belt across the middle of the chest, lap belt low across the hips
Show answer
Correct answer: Shoulder belt across the middle of the chest, lap belt low across the hips
The shoulder belt should cross the middle of the chest away from the neck, with the lap belt worn low across the hips, below the stomach.
Source: What Every Driver Must Know (October 2025), page 25 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 25)
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According to the manual, which of the following should you never do?
- Using an approved booster seat for a 7-year-old
- Installing a child seat in the rear seat
- Buckling a child and another passenger into one seat belt
- Buckling every child individually in a separate seat
Show answer
Correct answer: Buckling a child and another passenger into one seat belt
Never hold a child on your lap or buckle a child with another passenger into one seat belt.
Source: What Every Driver Must Know (October 2025), page 25 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 25)
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What should you do with a child-safety seat that was in a vehicle during a crash?
- Only replace it if the child was injured
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle only
- Continue using it if it looks undamaged
- Always replace it
Show answer
Correct answer: Always replace it
Any safety seat involved in a crash should always be replaced.
Source: What Every Driver Must Know (October 2025), page 26 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 26)
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For airbag safety, where are parents/guardians encouraged to seat children ages 12 and younger?
- In the front passenger seat
- In the rear seat of the vehicle
- Standing between the front seats
- It does not matter as long as they are buckled
Show answer
Correct answer: In the rear seat of the vehicle
Parents/guardians are encouraged to seat all children ages 12 and younger in the rear seat to avoid potential airbag injury in a crash.
Source: What Every Driver Must Know (October 2025), page 26 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 26)
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How much space is it recommended a driver keep between the center of their breastbone and the center of the steering wheel?
- At least 2 inches
- At least 20 inches
- There is no recommended distance
- At least 10 inches
Show answer
Correct answer: At least 10 inches
It is recommended that drivers sit with at least 10 inches of space between the center of their breastbone and the center of the steering wheel.
Source: What Every Driver Must Know (October 2025), page 26 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 26)
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How should a pregnant driver position her seat belt?
- Lap belt across the stomach, shoulder belt behind the back
- Lap belt over the hips, shoulder belt across the chest
- No seat belt is required during pregnancy
- Shoulder belt only, with the lap belt removed
Show answer
Correct answer: Lap belt over the hips, shoulder belt across the chest
Pregnant drivers should wear the lap belt over the hips (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt across the chest, sitting as far back as possible from the air bag.
Source: What Every Driver Must Know (October 2025), page 26 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 26)