Protecting Your Kids in the Car
Every child should be buckled in a child safety seat, a booster seat, or with a lap/shoulder belt, if it fits.
Riding with Babies:
Babies should ride in rear-facing child seats until they are at least 20 pounds AND at least one year
Babies riding in a car must never fact front. In a crash or sudden stop, the baby's neck can be hurt badly.
Babies in car seats must never ride in the front seat of a car with air bags. In a crash, the air bag can hit the car seat and hurt or kill the baby.
Never hold your baby in your lap when you are riding in the car. In a crash or sudden stop, your child can be hurt badly or killed.
Riding with Young Kids:
Kids over 20 pounds and at least 1 year old should ride in a car seat that faces the front of the car, van, or truck.
It is best to keep kids in the forward facing car seat for as long as they fit comfortably in it.
Older kids over 40 pounds should ride in a booster seat until the car's lap and shoulder belts fit right. The lap belt must fit low and snug on their hips. The shoulder belt must not cross their face or neck.
Never put the shoulder belt behind their back or under their arm.
Remember...
Bikes have to follow the same traffic rules and signs as cars.
All kids are safest in the back seat, in a safety seat or seat belt.
Always read the child seat instructions and the car owner's manual.
Test the child seat to ensure a snug fit by pulling the base to either side or toward the front of the car.
For additional information, please contact the NHTSA hotline at: 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236), or the NHTSA Web site.
Reprinted from the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission
