CHILD SAFETY SEATS

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 14 years and younger.  Many of these deaths could be stopped if children were traveling in a properly installed and operated child safety seat.  Below are some tips and installation items you should remember if your child is using one of these seats.

Effective November 1, 2019 – Children under 2 must be in a rear-facing child seat.

• Children up to the age of 4 must be properly restrained in a federally approved child safety seat that is attached to a vehicle by a seat belt or universal child restraint anchorage (LATCH) system
• Children less than age 4 but weighing more than 40 pounds may be restrained in a booster seat with a lap/shoulder safety belt. However, a child safety seat that accommodates higher weights can be used.
• Children ages 4, 5, 6 and 7 must be properly secured in an appropriate child restraint system, one for which the child meets the height and weight recommendations of the child restraint manufacturer.
• A vehicle’s safety belt is NOT a child restraint system.
• The safest place to install a car seat is usually the center of the back seat.
• Fasten the harness retaining clip at armpit level.
• Keep harness straps snug. (you should be able to slip one finger between the harness straps and the child’s collar bone)
• Fasten the seat belt tightly and make sure the car seat cannot move more than one inch forward or side wards. It is okay for the top of as rear-facing seat to tip up toward the back of the vehicle.
• From the age of 8 until they reach their 16th birthday, children must be restrained in a seat belt whenever they ride in a vehicle. All Front seat passengers must be properly restrained at all times, regardless of age.
• Children under the age of 12 years old should ride in the rear seat away from airbags.
• Children under the age of 16 years riding in the back seat of a vehicle must wear a seat belt.

The Cheektowaga Police Department currently have officers that are certified “Child Safety Seat Inspectors”.  You can contact the front desk at 686-3557 and set up an appointment to have your installation checked for safety and compliance.