A driver who transports passengers in their vehicles in Kansas City takes a great responsibility on themselves when they choose to do so. They are charged with the safety of all of those in the car. Like most, you might assume that responsibility ends with them driving safely so as to avoid any unnecessary risks, yet it even goes farther than that, even down to making sure that everyone is wearing their seat belts.
This last statement may seem odd to you in that the common school of thought is that it is up to each individual passenger to ensure their own safety by wearing their seat belt. This assumption is indeed correct in many cases. If you are traveling as a passenger, it is up to you to make sure that your seat belt is fastened. You cannot then sue the driver for not doing so and then being injured in an accident (if your injury is solely due to you not having properly worn your seat belt).
Yet what if someone else is driving around your kids? According to information shared by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, it is up to the driver of a vehicle to make sure that all passengers under the age of 16 are wearing their seat belts. Furthermore, if your child is under the age of four, the driver must ensure that they are secured in an approved child safety seat, and that said seat is property fastened to the underlying car seat.
If your child is under the age of 18, they are also not to ride unsecured in the bed of a truck that has a gross weight of under 12,000 pounds. The only exception to this is if they are participating in a special event or parade.