Child Transportation Safety Tips - This illustrated guide provides fourteen tips on how to protect your baby, what type of safety seat to use, how to secure a safety seat, and air bag safety.

Tip #1 Quick safety seat checkup
Tip #2 Where should your child ride?
Tip #3 How to protect your new baby in the car?
Tip #4 What safety seat to use for a big baby or toddler?
Tip #5 How should preschool and school children ride safely?
Tip #6 Is your safety seat secure in the car?
Tip #7 Harness straps: your child'slink to safety
Tip #8 What are safety seat recalls?
Tip #9 Air bag safety: Buckle up everyone! Children in back!
Tip #10 Play it safe: Walking and biking safely (toddlers & preschoolers)
Tip #11 Kids on the move: walking and biking safely (kindergarten to grade three)
Tip #12 School bus stops: a risky part of the ride
Tip #13 Handrails & drawstrings: clothing causes school bus hazard
Tip #14 Beyond the front yard: creating safer streets and play places for children

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PDF format, 1.1MB, 30Pages.

U.S. Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Read Child Transportation Safety Tips Online

Tip #1 Quick Safety Seat Checkup

Does your child ride in the back seat?

    * The back seat is generally the safest place in a crash.
    * If your vehicle has a passenger air bag, it is essential for children 12 and under to ride in back.

Does your child ride facing the right way?

    * Infants should ride in rear facing restraints, preferably in the back seat, until about age 1 and at least 20-22 lbs (A). Infants who weigh 20 lbs. before 1 year of age should ride in a restraint approved for higher rear facing weights (B). Always read your child restraint owner manual for instructions on properly using the restraint.
    * Children over age one and at least 20 pounds may ride facing forward (C).

Does the safety belt hold the seat tightly in place?

    * Put the belt through the right slot. If your safety seat can be used facing either way, use the correct belt slots for each direction.
    * The safety belt must stay tight when securing the safety seat. Check the vehicle owner's manual for tips on using the safety belts.

Is the harness buckled snugly around your child?

    * Keep the straps over your child's shoulder. The harness should be adjusted so you can slip only one finger underneath the straps at your child's chest. Place the chest clip at armpit level.

Does your child over 40 pounds have the best protection possible?

    * Keep your child in a safety seat with a full harness as long as possible, at least until 40 pounds (C). Then use a belt-positioning booster seat which helps the adult lap and shoulder belt fit better.
    * A belt-positioning booster seat is preferred for children between 40-80 pounds (D). It is used with the adult lap and shoulder belt. Check on special products for heavy children too active to sit still in a booster.

How should a safety belt fit an older child?

    * The child must be tall enough to sit without slouching, with knees bent at the edge of the seat, with feet on the floor. The lap belt must fit low and tight across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should rest over the shoulder and across the chest (E). Never put the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the child's back. The adult lap and shoulder belt system alone will not fit most children until they are at least 4'9" tall and weigh about 80 pounds.

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