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AAA Says, Don't Skip a Step in Child Passenger Safety

12 February 2000

    ORLANDO, Fla.--Diligent parents who properly restrain infants and toddlers in child safety seats too often skip a step when it comes to properly protecting older children riding in vehicles, according to AAA.

    "The forgotten step is to buckle children weighing between 40 and 80 pounds into booster seats designed to position adult seat belts correctly and safely around them," said Bill Wen, manager of training and professional development, AAA Traffic Safety. "Until children are large enough to correctly fit an adult-sized seat belt, they are at risk of fatal injury because the shoulder straps cut across their necks and the lap belts ride up onto their soft bellies."

    AAA is joining with other safety-minded organizations during National Child Passenger Safety Week, Feb. 13-19, to call attention to the need for increased use of child booster seats.

    According to AAA, the easiest way to know when children are large enough for an adult seat belt is to evaluate whether they can sit with their back straight up against the seat cushion while their knees bend over the seat edge without slouching.

    Restraint use for children from ages one to four is 91 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, restraint use plummets over 20 points to 69 percent for children ages five to 15 - and most children ages five to eight are improperly protected with an adult-sized seat belt, instead of a booster.

    Booster seats can be obtained at major retailers usually for less than $60. All booster seats are required to meet federal safety standards, regardless of price. They make great gifts from grandparents or family friends.

    One of the biggest challenges to using a booster seat is child acceptance, said Wen. AAA offers several key tips for choosing and using the right booster seat.

--   From an early age, explain to young children that they will use a
     booster seat when they are older.
--   When it is time to switch to a booster seat, show children how
     the booster offers them better protection than an adult seat
     belt.
--   Let children help in selecting the seat.
--   Make sure the seat fits your child's weight and height.
--   Try installing a seat in your vehicle before purchasing it. Make
     sure it fits the vehicle seat and restraint system.
--   Always consult your vehicle owner's manual before purchasing and
     installing a child safety seat. Most will offer specific
     instructions and list special equipment needed for proper
     installation of a child safety seat.

    AAA also recommends that all children under age 13 ride in the back seat.

    "The safest place for a young passenger is in the back seat, properly restrained," said Wen. "Unless there is no alternative, the back is where it's at."

    When there is no other alternative but to place a child over the age of one in the front seat, push the vehicle seat all the way back and make sure the child is safely fastened in the appropriate child safety restraint.