Seatbelt Safety

Adults

Seatbelt Safety:

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among those aged 1-54 in the U.S. Most crash-related deaths in the United States occur to drivers and passengers.

Seatbelt Safety for Adults

Adult seat belt use is the single most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries in crashes.

• Use a seat belt on every trip, no matter how short.
• Encourage all passengers in the car to buckle up, including those in the back seat.

Seatbelt & Car Seat Safety for Children

• According to National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death among children in the United States.
• Make sure children are properly buckled up in a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt, whichever is appropriate for their weight, height, and age.
• Rear-facing car seat: Birth until age 2-4. For the best possible protection, infants and toddlers should be buckled in a rear-facing car seat, in the back seat, until they reach the upper weight or height limits of their seat. Check the seat’s owner’s manual and/or labels on the seat for weight and height limits.
• Forward-facing car seat: After outgrowing rear-facing seat until at least age 5. When children outgrow their rear-facing seats, they should be buckled in a forward-facing car seat, in the back seat, until they reach the upper weight or height limit of their seat. Check the seat’s owner’s manual and/or labels on the seat for weight and height limits.
• Booster seat: After outgrowing forward-facing seat and until seat belts fit properly. Once children outgrow their forward-facing seat, they should be buckled in a belt positioning booster seat until seat belts fit properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt lays across the chest (not the neck). Proper seat belt fit usually occurs when children are about 4 feet 9 inches tall and age 9-12 years.
• Seat Belt: Once seat belts fit properly without a booster seat. Children no longer need to use a booster seat once seat belts fit them properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt lays across the chest (not the neck). Proper seat belt fit usually occurs when children are about 4 feet 9 inches tall and age 9-12 years. For the best possible protection, keep children properly buckled in the back seat.
• Install and Use Car & Booster Seats Properly Install and use car seats and booster seats according to the seat’s owner’s manual or get help installing them from a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.

For more information on proper seat belt and car seat safety, visit https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/child_passenger_safety/cps-factsheet.html.