Q: Is the back seat the safest place for my child?

A: Yes, children 12 years and under should be properly restrained in the back seat of the vehicle. It is estimated that children are 26 percent less likely to be fatally injured in a crash if seated in the rear seat of a passenger vehicle.

Q: What if I have no choice but to place a child under 12 in the front seat?

A:There may be occasions when a parent or caregiver has no other option than to place a child other than an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat in the right front seat, for example:

• In a pickup truck with insufficient or no available rear seat, or
• If a parent is transporting too many children for all to ride in the back, or
• When transporting a child with a medical condition that requires monitoring and another adult is not available.

In the event there is no available rear seat and parents have no other option than to place a child other than an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat in a front passenger seating position, take these steps:

1. Ensure the child is properly restrained,
2. Move the seat as far back as possible,
3. Make sure the child is not leaning out of position, and
4. Set the air bag ON-OFF switch, if available, to the OFF position.

When faced with having to choose which child other than an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat to place in front of an air bag in the front seat, select the child that can most be relied upon to remain in a proper seating position. This may not necessarily be the oldest child, but the child who is restrained at all times.

Remember: Infants in rear-facing child safety seats must NEVER ride in the front seat of a vehicle with an active front passenger air bag.

Q: Based on the age and size and my child, what is the most appropriate restraint?

A: Refer to this Age, Size & Weight Chart to help you choose the child restraint system that is correct for the age, size and weight of your child.

Q: When should your child use a booster seat?

A: All children who have outgrown child safety seats should be properly restrained in booster seats until they are at least 8 years old, unless they are 4’9” or taller.

When used correctly, booster seats can help prevent injury to older children by making adult-sized safety belts fit better. The adult lap and shoulder belt should fit the child snugly, with the lap belt lying flat across the upper thigh area, and the shoulder belt crossing the chest, resting against the middle of the child’s shoulder.

Q: What could happen if my child doesn’t use a booster seat?

A: Without a booster seat:

• The lap belt can ride up over the child’s stomach and cause serious internal injuries in a crash.
• The shoulder belts may be uncomfortably high, leading to misuse if children put the safety belts behind their backs or under their arms. These misuses can cause very serious internal injuries.

Regardless of weight, height, or age, all children 12 years and younger should be properly restrained in the back seat. Always read the child safety seat or booster seat manufacturer’s instructions, as well as the vehicle owner’s manual before installing a child safety seat.

Q: Will the vehicle safety belt system meet the needs of my children?

A: Correct safety belt use for all vehicle occupants should be the rule in your vehicle. Children who have outgrown child safety seats and booster seats should be able to fit the adult belt system correctly.

• The lap belt should fit low over the child’s upper thighs when he or she is sitting straight against the vehicle seat back. The child’s knees should bend naturally and comfortably over the edge of the vehicle seat.
• The shoulder belt should stay on the shoulder and lie against the child’s chest. Never put the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the child’s back.
• All children who have outgrown child safety seats should be properly restrained in booster seats until they are at least 8 years old, unless they are 4’9" or taller.

A lap-only belt (without a shoulder belt) should be used to restrain a child only if no other safety belt system is available. If you must transport several children in a vehicle that has a lap-only belt in the middle rear seat, and one of the children is in a rear-facing or a convertible/toddler child safety seat, follow these guidelines:

• Have the older children use the lap and shoulder belts.
• Put the child riding in a child safety seat in the middle.
• Secure the child safety seat with the lap-only belt.

Read the vehicle owner’s manual to be sure you understand how to use the safety belt correctly.

Q:Is it safe to use the child safety seat after it has been in a crash?

A: NHTSA recommends that child safety seats be replaced following a moderate or severe crash. Do not automatically replace the child safety seat following a minor crash if the following criteria are met:

• The vehicle could be driven away from the crash site.
• The vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged.
• There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants.
• The air bags (if present) did not deploy; AND
• There is no visible damage to the child safety seat.

Be a role model – Always buckle up.

Q:Which vehicles have the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system?

A:Since September 2000, all new passenger vehicles (except most convertibles) have been equipped with the top tether anchors. All vehicles manufactured after September 1, 2002, are equipped with the lower anchors. Although convertible vehicles are exempt from tether anchor requirements, some manufacturers offer them as a safety enhancement. Check your owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer to see if your older vehicle is equipped with tether anchors or has pre-drilled points where tether anchors can be installed.

Q: What if my vehicle is not LATCH-equipped?

A: Any child safety seat, even one with LATCH, can be installed using the vehicle safety belt and, if available, a top tether. Be sure to follow the vehicle owner’s manual and child safety seat instructions.

Q: What about side air bags (SABs)?

A: Side air bag technology designed to help protect your head and/or chest in the event of a serious side crash has advanced rapidly in recent years and various types of side air bags have emerged. There are three main types of side air bags: chest (or torso) side air bags, head side air bags and head/chest combination (or “combo”) side air bags.

A group of experts representing the automotive and insurance industries and known as the Tech-nical Working Group (TWG) has developed voluntary SAB testing procedures to minimize the potential risk of SAB-related injuries for occupants, especially children, who are seated very close (called “out-of-position”) to a deploying SAB.

Remember:

• ALL children should use a safety restraint appropriate for their age and size (this could be a safety seat, booster seat or adult safety belt).
• Children 12 and younger are safest sitting in the rear seat properly restrained.
• To minimize injury risks, NHTSA recommends that children not lean or rest against chest-only or head/chest combination SABs.
• NHTSA has not seen any indication of risks to children from current roof-mounted head SABs.

You should read the owner’s manual or contact your manufacturer for specific information about how the side air bag system in your vehicle works in the event of a crash. Visit www.safercar.gov/airbags for more detail on SABs and children. NHTSA also provides more detailed information in a searchable SAB database at www.safercar.gov.

Q: What about advanced (frontal) air bags?

A: Advanced air bag systems are a next-generation frontal air bag system designed to further reduce the likelihood of serious injury or death to occupants, both adults and children, who may be too close to the air bag when it deploys. Most advanced air bag systems use sensors that can automatically detect the severity of the crash, the occupant’s size, safety belt use, and/or seating position, and deploy the appropriate level of power to the driver and passenger frontal air bags.

Talk with the dealer or review the vehicle owner’s manual to learn about the specific features and sensor technologies in use as part of the advanced air bag system. Remember: Children are safest when properly restrained in the back seat, whether or not the vehicle has an air bag.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and www.safercar.gov