Driver's License Test Prep
California Practice Safety Belts & Restraints

How does the California manual say to position the shoulder harness of a seat belt?

  1. A.
    Tucked under the arm to prevent chafing against the neck.
  2. B.
    Behind your back when the strap rides across your neck.
  3. C.
    Across your shoulder and chest, not under your arm or behind your back. Correct
The Why

The answer is "Across your shoulder and chest, not under your arm or behind your back."

The shoulder harness rides across the shoulder and chest with little to no slack, and the manual expressly forbids running it under the arm or behind the back. Choice A is the fix a driver reaches for when the strap cuts into the neck; the correct move is to adjust the seat, not the belt path.

Why the others miss

The traps in the wrong answers

A. Tucked under the arm to prevent chafing against the neck.

The manual expressly says not to wear the shoulder belt under your arm. This answer trades the correct fit for a comfort adjustment the manual bans by name.

B. Behind your back when the strap rides across your neck.

The manual also expressly says not to wear the shoulder belt behind your back. This answer substitutes routing the belt away from the neck for the safer fix of raising the seat.

The Rule

This question tests your knowledge of Safety Belts & Restraints in California. Source: California Driver Manual, "Seat Belts," p.65..

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