Child Passenger Safety: Addressing car seats, booster seats and seat belts. These safety actions confront the greatest cause of preventable deaths and injuries to children in the United States and around the world. Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death among children ages 1 to 19.
Click It or Ticket
Children should ride in a vehicle back seat until they are 13 years old. Each state and U.S. territory has enacted laws governing various driver behaviors, from distracted driving to motorcycle helmet use.
The Ultimate Car Seat Guide
You can get custom car seat safety tips when you enter your child’s name, date of birth and current weight.
Do Not Buy Used Car Seats
Never buy a used car seat from garage sales, flea markets, second-hand stores, or online when you don’t know the previous owner or the complete history of the car seat. Avoid borrowing one from someone you do not know.
A used car seat is unsafe if it has been in a crash or if it is missing parts, labels, or instructions. A car seat is also unsafe if the manufacturer has issued a safety recall and the seat has not been fixed. There is just no way to be sure that a used car seat is safe.
Car Seat Checkup Events
Want to learn how to install your car seat for free? Safe Kids hosts thousands of child passenger safety events across the country. The trained technicians will teach you everything you need to know to make sure your car seat is fitted and installed correctly.
Basic Buying Tip
Types of Car Seats
Select the car seat or booster seat that fits your child, fits your car and fits your budget. We will guide you through finding the right car seat and helping you use it correctly.
There are three types of car seats: rear-facing, forward-facing and booster seat.
Even though there are many different models to choose from, all car seats meet the same U.S. federal safety standards.
Car Seat Parts
Here are the basic parts of every car seat.
Some car seats also have extra features. Buy a car seat that already comes with the extra features you want. If you add those extra features (called aftermarket products) later, such as padding for the harness straps, they can make your child less safe.
Read the Label
Before you buy, read the labels on the car seat or booster seat. Look for the weight, height, and age limits to make sure the car seat is right for your child.
If you’re buying online, you can find this information in the product description. Look for a section called “specification” or “specs.”
Register Your Seat
Complete and mail the registration card that comes with your car seat or booster seat.
If you register your car seat, the car seat manufacturer can notify you if there is a safety recall. Don’t worry, the information you provide on the registration card cannot be used for marketing or any other purpose except to notify you about a recall.
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