Montana

GHSA maintains data on state laws surrounding a number of highway safety issues. Below is information regarding laws in the state of Montana. For more information, consult the State Highway Safety Office.

Montana
Motorcycle Helmet Required?

Helmets required for riders under 18. Universal helmet law repealed 1977.

Montana
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

8 years (or 4 years by mail)

Montana
Provisions for Mature Drivers

75 and over: renewal every 4 years

Montana
Marijuana Impaired Driving

THC per se (5 ng)

Montana
DUID Zero Tolerance or Per se Laws for Some Drugs

Per se >0 for some drugs

Montana
Marijuana Possession and Use

Legal for medical use

Montana
Rural Interstates: Cars (MPH)

80

Montana
Rural Interstates: Trucks (MPH)

70

Montana
Urban Interstates: Cars (MPH)

65

Montana
Urban Interstates: Trucks (MPH)

65

Montana
Other Limited Access Roads: Cars (MPH)

Day: 70 Night: 65

Montana
Other Limited Access Roads: Trucks (MPH)

Day: 70 (Light Trucks), 60 (Heavy Trucks) Night: 65 (Light Trucks), 55 (Heavy Trucks)

Montana
Increased penalty for high BAC

0.16

Montana
Administrative license suspension on first offense

6 months

Montana
Limited driving privileges during suspension

Yes

Montana
Ignition Interlocks

Mandatory for repeat convictions

Montana
Open container laws

Yes

Montana
Repeat Offender Laws

No

Montana
Child Restraint Required

Under 6 yrs and under 60 lbs

Montana
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

6 yrs and older and over 60 lbs

Montana
Full Privilege Minimum Age

16 years

Montana
Learner Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)

14 / 6

Montana
Learner Stage: Minimum Duration (Months)

6

Montana
Learner Stage: Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours in Parenthesis)

50 (10)

Montana
Intermediate Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)

15

Montana
Intermediate Stage: Nighttime Driving Restriction

11 p.m. - 5 a.m.

Montana
Intermediate Stage: Passenger Restrictions (Except Family, Unless Noted)

First 6 months: no more than 1 under 18 Second 6 months: no more than 3 under 18

Montana
Type of Law

Secondary

Montana
Who is Covered?

6 and over

Montana
In What Seat?

All

Montana
Hand-Held Ban?

No

Montana
All Cell Phone Ban? School Bus Drivers

No

Montana
All Cell Phone Ban? Novice Drivers

No

Montana
Text Messaging Ban?

No

Montana
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

Montana
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Montana
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Montana
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Grant Paves the Way for Hands-On Driver Training for Native Youth

The Montana Department of Transportation and the Montana Office of Public Instruction were awarded a $50,000 grant to enhance access to hands-on driver training for Montana's tribal youth. The grant, sponsored by the Ford Motor Company and the Governors Highway Safety Association, will fund driver training workshops conducted by OPI's Montana DRIVE program.

GHSA, Ford Fund Provide Support for Safe Teen Mobility in Economically Disadvantaged Areas

GHSA and Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Ford Motor Company, are building upon a decades-long focus on youth traffic safety by awarding a total of $100,000 in grants to advance access to safe mobility for teens in underserved areas, even if a car isn’t part of their journey. Additionally, the Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program, which provides free, advanced, hands-on driver education, is returning for a 21st year in 2024 with an expanded focus on protecting pedestrians, bicyclists, scooter riders and others outside the vehicle.

GHSA, Ford Fund Provide Support for Safe Teen Mobility in Economically Disadvantaged Areas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2024

CONTACT: Adam Snider (GHSA), 202-580-7930, 202-365-8971 (after hours)
                   RoNeisha Mullen (Ford), 248-234-1365

Organizations provide $100,000 in grants to Montana and the District of Columbia, celebrate third decade of free, hands-on novice driver training program

Safe Youth Mobility Grant Results: Montana

In Montana, Native Americans comprise 6.2% of the population but account for approximately 17% of the state’s motor vehicle crash deaths each year. A closer look at the data reveal that Native American drivers 20 years of age and younger are involved in 30% of these fatal crashes. To tackle this issue, the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) developed the "Safe On All Roads" (SOAR) traffic safety program, which is managed by coordinators living in Tribal communities.

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