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Parents' & Family Guide

Ensuring Child Passenger Safety on the Road

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury for children under age 14 and the leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 14. According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, studies show that car seats, installed and used properly, can reduce the risk of death by up to 71% and the risk of hospitalization up to 69%.

Providing proper car seats and restraints for child passengers is the most important thing parents can do to prevent injury and save lives.

Basic Tips for Proper Use of Child Safety Seats

The following tips follow the recommendations of leading child safety authorities including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Safe Kids Campaign.

Make sure all children 12 and under ride in the back seat. The rear seat is safest for children of all ages.
Always use the appropriate car seat or booster seat for the age and size of the child passenger. Insist even if you are just making a short trip in the neighborhood or if a child asserts he or she is “too old” for a safety seat.
- Infants from birth up to 20 pounds should ride in a rear-facing safety seat properly installed in the back seat. Even a newborn should ride home from the hospital in a child safety seat.
- Children who are over a year old and weigh from 20 to 40 pounds should ride in the back seat in a forward-facing seat with full harness.
- Children who weigh from 40 to 80 pounds should ride in the back seat using a booster seat that positions the adult lap and shoulder belts properly to protect the child safely. In addition, children should continue to use booster seats until they can sit comfortably with their backs against the car’s seat back and their feet on the floor; in most cars this means they need to be about 4’9” tall.
Be sure you understand how to install the safety seat correctly and to buckle the child into it correctly. A correctly installed safety seat always fits tightly against the vehicle’s seat and should not move side to side or front to back. Improper installation can contribute to injury rather than protect the child passenger.
- Read the car seat or booster seat instruction manual carefully.
- Read the child safety seat and seat belt installation section in the owner’s manual of your vehicle(s).
- It’s also a good idea to have a certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technician check the installation of the child safety seats. Search for a child passenger safety seat inspection location in your area at SeatCheck.org.

Selecting the right car safety seat

IQ recommends using the thorough information in the following resources to help you select child safety seats that are most appropriate for your children and vehicle(s). These guides are free and available online.

Proper Child Safety Seat Use Chart, prepared by NHTSA.
Child Safety Seat Ease of Use Ratings, prepared by NHTSA.
Are You Using it Right?, prepared by NHTSA. Contains illustrations of correct installation and restraint of the child passenger.
A Parent's Guide to Buying and Using Booster Seats, prepared by NHTSA.
Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families, prepared by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Checking up on car safety seat recalls

Has a car safety seat you own been recalled? NHTSA provides online information or you can call their Auto Safety Hotline toll-free (1-888-327-4236).

State laws regarding child passenger safety

Every state has laws designed to ensure child passenger safety, but the requirements for consumers vary widely from state to state. In Wisconsin, a new child safety seat law went into effect on June 1, 2006. The Wisconsin Information Network for Safety site has information about the new law, locations for where to have seats checked, and parent info, tech info, news and more.

For other states consult the Child Restraint, Belt Laws from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

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