Child Passenger Safety - Stage 4: Lap/Shoulder Belt
Who:
Safety belt fits properly -
- Shoulder belt across collar bone & chest.
- Lap belt fits across hips/thighs, not abdomen.
Knees bend naturally over edge of seat while sitting straight, with back flat against seat back.
Why:
Motor-vehicle crashes are the No. 1 killer of children - including teenagers!
Crashes killed more than 2,300 kids last year alone, ranking far ahead of all other types of unintentional injuries and claiming more lives than any childhood disease.
Many of these deaths could have been prevented if only the children had been properly buckled up.
Children under 13 years of age should be properly restrained in the back seat. Teenagers should wear lap and shoulder belts in every seating position in a motor vehicle.
Be Sure:
- ALWAYS require seat belt use for all passengers.
- Make sure the lap belt fits low and tight across the lap/upper thigh area - NOT the abdomen.
- Shoulder belt should cross the chest and shoulder.
The Back is Where It's At!
The back seat is safer for everyone - especially children under age 13. Properly restraining a child in the back seat can significantly reduce the risk of death or injury in a crash.