How do I know if my children are safely bucked up in my car?

Being concerned about your children’s safety is crucial for any parent. Do you know any children who still remain buckled up in booster seats after 6 years of age? You probably don’t. However, the law doesn’t have an age limit. They have other precautions and measures.

According to the Partners for Child Passenger Safety (PCPS)000, a joint venture of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Mutual Insurance Co., children are not considered grown enough to properly wear adult seat belts until they are more than 4 feet 9 inches tall and weigh more than 80 pounds.

Dr. Flaura Winston, the principal investigator for PCPS, says, “Seat belts are designed to ft the average adult made. Just like you wouldn’t give your child your raincoat to wear, you shouldn’t give him your seat belt.”

In fact, there are statistics to prove and support this law. These statistics are shocking and will probably have any parent be more concerned about his child’s safety. The PCPS and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provided us with sobering statistics that will shock you:

• More than 500 children - ages 5 to 9 – are killed   and 95,000 are injured every year in motor vehicle accidents.

• The risk of significant injury is 3.5 times greater for children ages 2 to 5 who use adult seat belts and they are four times more likely to suffer head injury compared to children in the same age group, but who use booster seats.

• Adult seat belts are used by 40 percent of 2-to-5 year olds and 16 percent of 3-year-olds when they should be restrained in a weight/height-appropriate car seat.

• Most children use adult seat belts instead of booster seats by the age of 4.

How do you know if your child needs a booster seat? Ask the following questions:

• Does the belt cross the shoulder between the child’s arm and neck?

• Is the lap belt as low as possible, to the point where it touches the child’s thighs?

• Can the child stay seated in this position through the whole trip?

• Does the child sit all the way back against the seat?

• Do the knees of the child comfortable bend at the edge of the auto seat?

If you answered no to any of these questions, then your child needs a booster seat in order to prevent your child from having fatal or serious injuries.