Appropriate safety restraints for children riding in motor vehicles is an important consideration in caring for your child. Each year needless deaths and injuries of children occur from improperly restrained children.
Here are some FAQ from the New York Department of Motor Vehicles that relate to the regulations mandated to keep your child safe while riding in your vehicle.
Are child safety seats and child restraint systems required in New York State?
New York State law requires all children under the age of four to ride in safety seats. The law requires that all children age four, five or six ride in child restraint systems. Safety seats and child restraint systems must be certified according to Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standard 213. Follow the instructions of the manufacturer of the seat or system, and make sure you install and use the seat or system correctly.
Note: The effective date of the requirement to use a child restraint system for a child age four, five, or six is March 27, 2005.
How do I select the correct child safety seat or child restraint system?
To select the correct protection for your child, carefully read the recommendations of child safety seat or child restraint system manufacturers. The recommendations tell you what age weight and height a child can be to use the seat or system. The recommendations are normally printed on the outside of the package.
Elmwood Pediatric Group Recommendations
The Elmwood Pediatric Group recommends the following guidelines for proper selection of a car safety seat based on age, height and weight:
Infant Seats: Infant seats are normally for infants that weigh approximately 22 pounds or less, are 25 inches or less in length, or are less than one year old. Face the infant seat toward the back of the vehicle. Never put an infant in the front seat of a vehicle that has a passenger-side air bag.
Convertible Child Safety Seats: Convertible child safety seats are normally for infants or toddlers that weigh approximately 40 pounds or less. For infants, face these seats toward the back of the vehicle. For toddlers more than one year old, you can change these seats to face the front of the vehicle. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to adjust the seat as the child increases in size.
Booster Seats: Booster seats are normally for children who have outgrown toddler seats. Booster seats are for children who are four to eight years old, who weigh 40 to 80 pounds, and who are less than four feet, nine inches in height. You can use a booster seat until an adult seat belt correctly fits the child without use of the booster seat. A child’s legs should flex at the knees at the edge of the seat and not stick out straight to be out of a booster seat. Built-in child seats are available with some vehicle models. Built-in child seats fold away from the standard car seats. Do not use these seats for infants.
Always read the instructions and the information provided in the vehicle owner manual about the use of child safety seats or child restraint systems. Make sure you install and use the seat or system correctly at all times.
For information on safety fitting stations in Monroe County, call the Office of Traffic Safety at (585) 753-3016.
Web Link: www.boosterseat.gov
