CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY. Presented By:

Transcription

1 CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY Presented By:

2 Table of Contents 1 Introduction: Save Your Child with a Seat 3 2 Child Passenger Safety Overview 4 3 Choosing the Correct Seat 4 Top 5 Mistakes Act Now: Contact Information 10 6 Additional Resources 11 2

3 Introduction 3 out of every 4 children in child safety seats are not properly secured or not restrained at all. (NHTSA) Every year, this contributes to thousands of deaths or injuries to children involved in vehicle crashes. Act now. Save your child with a seat. 3

4 Child Passenger Safety Overview Key Facts: In the U.S., vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children age 13 and under. (NHTSA) Texas law states that children must ride in a child safety seat or booster seat until the age of 8, unless the child is 4 9 or taller. Seat belts are only designed for adults and do not protect young children in the same way. 4

5 Child Passenger Safety Overview, Cont d Key Facts: Children younger than 13 should always ride in the back seat. Never install a rear-facing child safety seat in front of an active air bag. Safety seats should not move more than an inch to the right, left, forward or backward when correctly installed. 5

6 Child Passenger Safety Overview, Cont d Key Facts: Children can use vehicle seat belts alone when he or she can: Sit straight against the vehicle seat back with knees bent over the seat edge. Fasten the lap belt snugly over hips and thighs. Wear the shoulder belt across the shoulder and chest (not neck). 6

7 Choosing the Correct Seat Stage 1: Rear-Facing Seat Infants/Toddlers All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear facing safety seat until they are 2 years old or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the safety seat manufacturer. Stage 2: Convertible or Forward-Facing Seat Toddlers/Pre-Schoolers Any child 2 or older who has outgrown the rear-facing height or weight limit should use a forward-facing safety seat with a harness as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by the safety seat s manufacturer. 7

8 Choosing the Correct Seat Stage 3: Forward-Facing or Booster Seat School-Aged Children After children have exceeded the height and weight limit for a forward-facing safety seat, they should be switched to a belt-positioning booster seat. They should remain in this seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they reach 4 feet 9inches and are between 8 and 12 years of age. Stage 4: Seat Belts Older Children When children are old and large enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use both lap and shoulder seat belts for optimal protection. All children younger than 13 should wear seat belts and ride in rear seats for optimal protection. 8

9 Top 5 Mistakes 1. Harness straps used to hold the children in safety seats are positioned either too low or too high. 2. Harness chest clips are not used at all or are positioned over the abdomen instead of the chest. 3. Harness straps are too loose, with more than two inches of total slack between the child and the harness strap. 4. Safety seats are installed too loosley, moving more than two inches side to side or front to back. 5. Improper seat belt placement with the lap belt resting over the stomach and/or the shoulder belt on the child s neck or face. 9

10 Act Now Want to make sure your child s seat is properly installed? TxDOT has certified Child Passenger Safety Seat Technicians at each of its 25 locations. Save your child with a seat and schedule a free seat check appointment with your local TxDOT Traffic Safety Specialist today. 10

11 Additional Resources For more information about child safety seats and keeping your child safe, visit: Texas Department of Transportation American Academy of Pediatrics Safe Riders Safe Kids Worldwide National Highway Traffic Safety Administration