The National Safety Council recently released an article about the safety of children riding in vehicles. Over the years, many laws and regulations have been put in place. For example, the Center for Decease Control states that children 12 years of age and younger should always ride in the back seat, and should never be seated in front of an airbag. And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration insists that children should remain in a booster until the vehicle’s seat belts fit properly—when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest. A good way to decide whether or not a child is ready to ride without a booster is to follow this five-step guide:
The Five-Step Test
1) Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
2) Do the child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
3) Is the lap belt touching the top of the thighs, not the tummy?
4) Is the shoulder belt centered on the shoulder and chest?
5) Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
