Before You Hit the Road, Buckle Up Your Kids Properly
Does Your Child Need a Booster Seat?
- Can the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
- Are the child’s legs ling enough so the knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
- Does the shoulder belt cross the center of the shoulder and chest?
- Is the lap belt as low as possible and snug, crossing the hipbones or upper thighs?
- Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
If you answered “no” to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to ride safely in the car.
Source: SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.
September 2004 — Even if your children can't get behind the wheel for another 10 to 15 years, keeping them safe as passengers is essential. That means following proper safety guidelines for safety seats, booster seats, seat belts and air bags.
Safety Guidelines
The good news is that child restraint use has increased over the years. A study by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that between the mid-1990s and the fall of 2002, child restraint use increased from 50.6 percent to 71.5 percent for children weighing 60 pounds or less.
The bad news: Nearly 73 percent of all child restraints are improperly used, unnecessarily exposing children and other passengers to increased risk of injury or death. The most common critical abuses are loose harness straps and loose vehicle safety belt attachments.
How you install a car safety seat depends on your child’s height and weight, among other factors. Keep the following safety guidelines in mind when putting your child in the car:
- The safest place for children 12 years and younger is in the back seat.
- Infants younger than 1 year old AND weighing less than 20 pounds should ride in a rear-facing safety seat in the back seat. Never place a rear-facing safety seat in the front seat if an active air bag is present.
- Toddlers between 20 and 40 pounds should ride in a forward-facing safety seat in the back seat with a harness.
- Every car and safety seat is different. Read your car manual and safety seat instruction booklet for proper installation.
- Children who are too big for a safety seat — weighing between 40 and 80 pounds — should ride in the back seat in a belt-positioning booster seat. They can sit in the auto seat with a seat belt when they can sit all the way back against the auto seat, with knees bent comfortably over the seat cushion edge and without slouching (approximately 4'9" in height). According to the NHTSA, at least 80 percent of children who should ride in booster seats do not.
Car Seat Safety Every Day
There should be no negotiation when it comes to child passenger safety. Even though children may dislike their safety seat or booster seat, parents must enforce car seat safety until it becomes second nature for them. The NHTSA found that 92 percent of children riding with belted drivers were restrained, compared with just 62 percent of children transported by unbelted drivers. Set a good example by buckling up when you get behind the wheel and explaining to your children the importance of car seat safety.
One final note: Florida’s Child Restraint Law requires all children 5 years of age or younger to be properly restrained. The penalty for violation is a $60 fine and 3 points on your driver’s license.
For more information about child safety seats — including a list of seat-fitting stations in your area — please call the Florida Traffic Safety Resource Center at (877) KIDSEAT.