Child Passenger Safety

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death to children age two to 14 and the leading cause of injury-related death to children under two years of age.

Seat belts are designed for the comfort and protection of an adult-sized body. Child safety seats, when used and installed correctly, can prevent injury and save lives. Most new vehicles have child restraint hooks or attachments. When shopping for a new or used vehicle, you should look into the availability of these attachments.

Unrestrained or improperly restrained children are at greater risk of injury, may suffer more severe injuries, and are at far greater risk of death in an accident than children who are properly restrained. Restrained children have an 80 percent reduced risk of injury or death than children who are unrestrained.

Misuse of child safety seats is widespread. It is estimated that nearly four out of five children who are placed in car seats are improperly restrained. Don't become a statistic!

Prevention

• Follow these simple safety tips and reduce the risk of injury or death:
• Children ages 12 and under should ride in the back seat.
• Infants should ride in the back seat in a rear-facing safety seat for as long as possible, at minimum until the age of one, and at least 20 pounds. Many child safety seats are available that will accommodate children over 20 pounds in the rear-facing position.
• Children over one year and at least 20 pounds may ride in a forward-facing child safety seat in the back seat. Children should ride in a safety seat with full harness until they reach the maximum weight recommended by the manufacturer of the safety seat, which can be between 40 and 65 pounds.
• All children who have outgrown child safety seats should be properly restrained in a booster seat until they reach 4'9" in height (usually between 8 and 12 years of age).
• Belt positioning boosters can only be used with both the lap and shoulder belt across the child. The shoulder belt should be snug against the child’s chest, resting across the collar bone. The lap belt should lay low across the child’s upper thigh area.
• A rear-facing child safety seat is never placed in front of an active passenger air bag.
• Always read the child safety seat instruction manual and the vehicle owner's manual child seat installation section for directions on proper installation of the child safety seat.
• Call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Auto Safety Hotline, (888) DASH-2-DOT, to inquire about recalls or safety notices on your child safety seat.

You can get additional information by visiting  SAFE KIDS WORLDWIDE.

Child Passenger Safety Statistics are available from the NHTSA.