Recent studies have found that people who ride in cargo areas are 26 times more likely to be ejected than passengers riding in the cabs of pickups. They're called cargo areas for a very good reason - they are designed to transport cargo, not people. Pickup trucks with extended cabs are gaining in popularity, but Agran noted there have been no studies of extended cabs from an occupant safety standpoint. Extended cabs come in varying sizes and seating configurations, and the study will explore what role, if any, they play in the rate of injuries and fatalities. The study also will analyze characteristics of pickup truck drivers and usage patterns, and review public policies and laws throughout the nation relating to travel in cargo areas.
Laws vary from state to state.
Agran said she and her colleagues would like ultimately to see passenger travel in cargo areas outlawed entirely. California is leading the nation in that regard. In 1994, the State Legislature passed Motor Vehicle Code 23116, which outlawed passenger travel in unenclosed cargo areas unless the riders are restrained. Unrestrained travel is allowed in enclosed cargo areas, such as camper shells. However, the California Highway Patrol is overriding that provision and is now ticketing unbelted passengers under the mandatory seat belt law.