recreationalvehicle

Recreational Vehicles and Child Passengers

Important Safety Information for Traveling in Recreational Vehicles (RVs) with Children
If you are planning to rent, purchase, or travel in a private recreational vehicle (RV) with children, please be aware of the following safety considerations, provided by the Recreational Vehicle and Child Passenger Safety (RV-CPS) Working Group. The group has been providing research and education to parents and caregivers on RVs since 2012:

1. Rear Passenger Safety Uncertainty: The safety of rear passengers, including children, is uncertain due to variations in how seat belt requirements are met and the lack of comprehensive crash testing for RVs.

2. Collision Risks: In the event of a collision, wooden benches, cabinets, and other built-in furnishings can break apart. Equipment and storage materials can become projectiles, posing serious injury risks to passengers. (See videos below for examples.)

3. Child Safety Restraint Systems:

a). Child safety seats (car seats and booster seats) should never be used in rear-facing or side-facing bench seating within any RV.

b). Most car seat manufacturers design their car seats to be used in motor vehicles that meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). However, the seating in the rear living compartments of RVs is not required to meet these standards.

4. High-Profile Vehicle Risks: All types of RVs—Class A, B, C, or non-motorized towable RVs—are high-profile vehicles. They are restricted during high wind conditions and pose increased risks when making sharp turns or backing up.

Please prioritize safety and consult with child passenger safety experts or resources before traveling in an RV with children. Questions, call 323-491-6197.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) generally does not crash test RVs. While passenger vehicles that weigh less than 10,000 lbs. (4,536 kg) are required to meet seat belt standards, because RV's weigh over this amount any seats in the rear cabin of the RV are not required to meet seat belt standards. This includes class A and C RVs. For class B, RV 's, these can require lap belt only seat belts in the back seating, but only when those carry a chassis-mount campers (over the cab as in a Class-C) that weight between 8,500 lbs. (3,833 kg) and 10,000 lbs. (4,536 kg).

Risks

What are the risks?

RVs are not required to occupant protection crash testing or need to meet Federal seat belt standards for rear living compartment seating located in the back of the RV.
Some RVs that have lap-shoulder belts in the back seating (bench or dinette) are not required to meet Federal seat belt standard 208 (depending on RV Class). For RV's that have seat belts (lap belt or lap/shoulder belts) in the rear bench or dinette seating, be aware that while these are usually bolted into the floor of the vehicle or onto a steel frame that is then bolted into the floor of the vehicle, that during a crash, the wooden frame which hold the seats could break apart. In this case a child restraint system and occupants in lap/shoulder belts could collapse due to the force of a crash causing injury to passengers.
Kitchen equipment and wooden cabinets could also collapse or become a projectile during a crash. In addition, storage supplies can also become projectiles and injure passengers.

Recommended Alternatives

1. Best Alternative (Recommended)

Drive children in a passenger vehicle so they can be properly restrained and follow the RV (Class A, B or C). For the driver and other adults in the RV, they are still not as safe as in a passenger vehicle.

2. Second Best Alternative

Consider a "non-motorized/tow-able RV" (fifth wheel, trailer, tent trailer, truck camper) so the child can ride properly restrained in a child restraint system in a passenger vehicle that tows the RV. Keep in mind that that:

The driver must be experienced and familiar with towing a trailer behind their vehicle.
These are high-profile vehicles, meaning it is restricted during high wind conditions and can be difficult in making sharp turns and backing.
For those traveling with infants and toddlers, remember to childproof the RV. See "Additional Travel Safety Tips for Traveling with Children (infants & toddlers) in RV's".

3. Least-Safe Alternative

For those who own an RV or for those considering in purchasing one, have custom seats built in that meet Federal seat belt standards, expect the RV living compartment is not crash tested and does not meet occupant protection safety. However, keep in mind that during a collision:

There is still a risk of cabinets and kitchen equipment anchored onto wooden joists can break apart and injure passengers
Storage items can become projectiles and injure passengers

Remember this is the least safe for any rear passenger and not ideal nor recommended for child passengers.

Questions, talk with a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.
Call 323-491-6197

Classes of Recreational Vehicles (RVs), Safety Concerns, & Crash Tests

Classes of RVs

Class A

This class is the largest of RV's and are built on a bus chassis. However, these are not required to meet bus safety standards. This class of RV weighs between 15,000-30,000 pounds so these are not required to comply with Federal seat belt standards for rear occupants.

Class B

This class is generally a van conversion that weight between 6,000-8,000 pounds. These are required to meet Federal seat belt standards for front occupants. But not for rear occupants. Each manufacture has different standards and some that do test. Best to contact each manufacturer regarding seat belt standards and testing.

Class C

This class is constructed on a van chassis and weighs between 10,000-12,000 pounds. These are required to meet Federal seat belt standards for front occupants. But not for rear occupants.

Recreational Vehicle Seat Belt Concerns

Many classes of RV's have lap belt only or lap-shoulder belts in the dinette and side seating. However, these often can give a false sense of security. Depending on the manufacturer, most rear (cabin) seating have seat belts that are bolted onto steel mounts or directly to the floor (as shown in these photos). A safety concern however to adult and child passengers is that during a crash the wooden seat structure and cabinets can fail due to the force of a crash, increasing the risk of injury or death to passengers. There are two companies that voluntarily conduct occupant testing of their RV's, one in the United Kingdom and one in the United States (but only Class B). These tests show how cabinets and seating frames can collapse increasing the risk of injury to passengers (see crash test video's below).

Recreational Vehicle Crash Tests Examples

Roadtrek Class B Crash Test
Roadtreck Motorhomes, Inc. a company in the United States has conducted its own crash tests on Class B RV's. However specifically for adult passengers for head protection, seat belt testing, and seating system testing. However not for child occupants or child restraint systems.

Bailey RV Crash Test (U.K.)
Bailey motor homes, a company in the United Kingdom, does its own crash tests with adult and older-child crash test dummies. They used this testing to make improvements to ensure the safety of occupants. Their tests found that dinette benches collapsed, and occupants were thrown from their restraint system causing serious injury. What can be seen in the videos below, is that during a collision all passengers in the rear of an RV can be at risk of injury or death. While a child restraint system (car seat or booster seat) does provide additional protection, when the wooden supports collapse and cabinets become projectiles there is still significant injury risk to children. If the manufacturer of the RV you are considering does not do its own crash testing to make appropriate passenger safety modifications, follow the Guidelines for Parents: Alternatives to consider while traveling with a child in an RV (as shown above).

See Resources for CPSTs (Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians)

Recommended Citation
For use of this information on public agency, hospital, and other organizational websites, please cite the following recommended citation on your website and handout materials:

Recreational Vehicle and Child Passenger Safety Working Group & Pro Car Seat Safety. (2026). Recreational Vehicles and Child Passengers. PRO CAR SEAT SAFETY. https://www.procarseatsafety.com/rv.html