Auto Accident Child Safety

Travel Safely with Young Passengers in Your Car

The essential safety information for every parent, relative, friend, or caregiver, who may transport an infant or small child in an automobile is to be sure to get the right car seat for your child. When it comes to child restraint systems, one size does not fit all, and each system must be appropriate for the individual youngster's age, weight, and height.

The following are general guidelines about the kind of protection your child may need:

• Infants up to about 1 year old should travel in a federally-approved infant safety seat that faces the rear of the car. Facing the back of the car protects a baby's fragile head and neck if a car accident occurs. The car seat should be semi-reclined so that the baby's head does not flop forward.

• Children between 1 and 4 years old can sit in a convertible seat that faces forward, if the car seat is equipped with harness straps to securely hold the youngster in place.

• A child who outgrows a convertible seat should ride in a booster seat, which will make the safety belt fit better and more comfortably.

• After a child gets too big for a booster seat, he or she can wear a regular seat belt, but should continue to sit in the back seat until 12 years of age.

Give your child the maximum protection by using the car safety seat properly.

Although about 80% of drivers use child restraint systems, over 70% were incorrectly installed. The most common mistakes were incorrect use of the tethers and harnesses, which will keep the child safely secured in the event of an accident. This puts children at risk, and can easily be avoided, if drivers take the time to follow these simple steps:

• Study the vehicle owner's manual and car seat instructions carefully.

• Check to see if you need a special locking clip. Not all standard safety belts will secure a car seat without it.

• Look for a car seat with a label saying it meets federal motor vehicle standards.

• Send in the car seat registration card, so that you will get notice of product safety recalls.

• Get a tight fit - the car seat should not move more than one inch from side to side or forward. To check for proper installation, push and pull on the car seat near the safety belt buckle.

• Replace a car seat that has been in a crash.