September 18-24, 2022 is Child Passenger Safety Week – September 24 is National Seat Check Saturday
For kids, car accidents are currently the leading cause of death. Every day since 2019, an estimated 374 children under the age of 13 were injured while traveling in automobiles, SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans, and 608 child passengers die. Of those unfortunate losses, 38% were not properly restrained by seatbelts or car seats.
This year, in celebration of Child Passenger Safety Week, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a new public service announcement (PSA) urging parents and other caregivers to secure children in the proper car seat for their age, height, and weight at every stage of development.
What is the right car seat for your child?
The best way to protect a baby or child under the age of 8 in a collision is to have them properly secured in a certified car seat or booster. The NHTSA now has a handy tool online to help parents and caregivers identify the best car seat based on the child’s age, height, and weight.
How can you be sure that the car seat is installed correctly?
Correct installation and use of your child’s car seat can be verified by certified experts anywhere in the nation, frequently at no cost. Virtual seat checks are also provided by many communities. If you are not sure where to go to get help, use the NHTSA’s car seat inspection finder.
What are the laws in Pennsylvania about child safety seats?
Car seats are required in every state, though some of the specific regulations vary. In the state of Pennsylvania, child safety laws require all children under the age of 4 to be buckled in an approved car seat.
- Children under the age of 2 must be buckled in a rear-facing car seat. This is required until the child has outgrown the max. weight and height limitations indicated by the manufacturer of the safety seat.
- Children 2 to 4 years of age must be properly restrained in an approved child safety seat.
- Kids between the ages of 4 and 8 need to be buckled in with a booster seat that fits their height and weight.
- Drivers and passengers of all ages must wear a seat belt.
It is dangerous to place car seats in front of airbags. For this reason, it’s highly recommended that all car seats and boosters be placed in the rear passenger seats of the vehicle.
Do older children need car seats too?
Most children between the ages of 8 and 12 still need a booster seat for their safety. Make sure they ride in a booster seat until they reach the booster’s size restrictions or until they are big enough to fit comfortably in an adult seatbelt. A seat belt that fits properly entails:
- The shoulder belt does not cross the neck or face; it rests snugly across the shoulder and chest.
- The lower part of the seat belt rests comfortably across the upper thighs, not the stomach.
Make sure your child is properly restrained on every trip, and keep them seated in the back seat until they are at least 12 years old.
Can purchasing used car seats be a safe and cost-effective option?
It is never advisable to purchase a used car seat or accept a second-hand model. Even if the car seat is not expired, it’s impossible to know its crash history. Used items are, therefore, not guaranteed to meet safety performance standards.
Should a car seat be replaced after an accident?
Never reuse a child restraint that has been involved in a major collision. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, a car seat in the vehicle at the time of a major accident should be replaced. This is true even if there is no visible damage to the car seat and even if the child was not in it during the crash.
Many parents ask why this is recommended. Vehicle safety experts have verified that car seats are impacted by the forces sustained in an accident. You may not see any signs of damage, but crash forces are extreme enough to create small stress fractures in the car seat’s plastic body. These fractures render the car seat or booster unreliable for protecting the child in the future. According to the NHTSA, the seat no longer guarantees a high-level performance in accidents.
What about minor accidents?
Unless the car seat manufacturer states otherwise, the NHTSA says that replacement isn’t necessary if the accident was minor. In small collisions, where the restraint is not subject to significant stress, crash tests have shown that car seats can still be considered safe.
There are five factors for determining the severity of the accident. It must meet all of the following criteria to be considered minor:
- The car could be driven away from the scene of the collision;
- The car door closest to the car seat or booster wasn’t damaged;
- None of the passengers, nor the driver, were hurt in the accident;
- The crash didn’t cause the airbags to open; AND
- There was no visible damage to the car seat or booster.
What if the manufacturer provides different advice?
Always refer to the owner’s manual provided by the car seat manufacturer. Some brands advise that the seat be replaced after any type of collision, no matter how severe. In this case, it is safest to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation.
Can car seat safety be verified after a crash?
Not really. In theory, a specialized x-ray could verify the integrity of a safety seat following an accident, but there is no company or public entity which currently offers this service. Because damage is not always visible, the guidelines call for full replacement of the child seat after any collision that is considered moderate to severe.
Will insurance cover the cost of replacing the car seat?
Check with your car insurance provider. Most insurance policies cover car seat replacement if the vehicle has been involved in a crash. They usually provide full reimbursement for a new car seat model or pro-rated coverage based on its value at the time of the accident. An accident report or documentation for the collision repair shop may be requested to confirm the severity of the crash. Have the police document the fact that there was a car seat in the vehicle.
More Car Seat Safety Resources
- Find the right type of car seat for your child.
- Check that your child’s car seat is installed correctly.
- Learn How to Prevent Accidental Hot Car Deaths
Read about Important News About Car Safety Ratings.
Badell’s Collision Repair cares about your safety. To request information or a quick estimate, use our online form.
