Properly
restrain your children EVERY TIME they ride in a vehicle. When used
properly, child safety seats can prevent injuries and save lives.
The following are excerpts from a booklet
put out by New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee. You
may request a copy at http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us
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New York State's Occupant Restraint Law |
| Motor Vehicle crashes
are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children
ages 14 and under. Most parents believe
they are using child safety seats properly, but it is estimated that four
out of five children are improperly restrained. |
- The driver and
all front-seat passengers must wear seat belts, one person to a belt.
- All children
under the age of four must be restrained in a child safety seat that
meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.
- Children ages
4, 5,and 6, riding in any seating position of a motor vehicle will
be required to be restrained in an appropriate child restraint system
that meets the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards set forth in
49 C.F.R. 571.213. It may be a child safety seat or harness/vest or
booster seat. (The vehicle's safety belts are not a child restraint
system.)
- A
child should stay in a booster seat until the adult seat belt fits
him or her properly. This is usually when your child reaches 4'9"
in height and is about 8 years old. The
lap belt should be low across the upper thighs or hips, not across
the abdomen. The shoulder belt should lie across the chest and shoulder,
not touching the neck or face.
- Children under
the age of 16 riding in the back seat must wear a seat belt.
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The law alone does
not provide adequate protection for a child riding in a motor vehicle.
A combination of factors need to be considered: |
- Height and weight
of your child
- The type and
age of your child safety seat
- The way you
secure your child and seat into the car
|
Make sure the child
safety seat you use is the proper type for your child. Base your selection
on your child's weight and height and on compatibility with your vehicle.
|
Make sure that you
return the car seat registration card to the manufacturer.
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The safest place
for a child to ride is in the center of the backseat.
|
Infants should remain
in rear-facing seats until they weigh 20 pounds and are one year of age.
|
NEVER put an infant
in a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle that has a passenger
air bag.
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Always read the
child safety seat instructions and your vehicle owner's manual carefully
before installing your child safety seat.
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Used Child Safety Seats
If you purchase a used model, keep the following in mind: |
- Never use a
seat more than 10 years old or manufactured before 1981. Some manufacturers
recommend that their child safety seats not be used more than six
years after the date of manufacture.
- Make sure the
label states the brand name, model number, date of manufacture, and
compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards. If the label
is missing do not use the seat
- If the seat
is missing instructions, you can obtain a copy by calling the manufacturer.
(most manufacturers have a toll-free number). You need these instructions
to install the seat properly.
- Find out if
the seat has ever been recalled. The manufacturer can advise you of
a recall. Be prepared to provide the seats name, model number and
production date.
- NEVER use a
child safety seat that has been in a crash. Even if the seat looks
okay, it may have been damaged and might not adequately protect your
child
- Make sure the
seat has all of its parts: harness straps, retainer clips, padding,
shield, tether straps, and bolts. If there are missing parts, don't
use the seat. You may get the replacement part(s) from the manufacturer.
- Do not use the
seat if you find cracks, bends, or breaks in the plastic shell or
metal frame, and/or worn or frayed harness straps and rusted buckles.
- Try the buckle.
It should stay latched and unbuckle smoothly. If not, don't use the
seat.
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