2017 Illinois Child Passenger Safety Week

Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed)

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[Local Organization] will Check Car Seats and Warn Against the Eight Most Common Installation Mistakes

How many times while driving have you looked over at the car next to you and noticed ayoung childnot buckled in a car seat — or worse, not even belted in a seat belt? It happens far too often.

By Illinois law, a child must be in an appropriate car seat or booster seat until their 8thbirthday; however, most children this age are still too small to sit in a seat without some form of a car seat or booster seat.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both advise that most children should ride in a car seat until they have reached a height of 4 feet, 9 inches and are between 8 and 12 years old. Five key factors thatyour child is ready to use a seat belt include:

  • he/she can sit all the way back against the vehicle seat;
  • his/her knees can bend completely over the edge of the vehicle seat;
  • the seat belt crosses the shoulder between the neck and arm;
  • the lap belt is touching the child’s thighs;
  • the child can stay seated this way for the entire trip.

If even one of these conditions isnot met, the child is notready for a seat belt. Continue to use the car seat or booster seat that fits the child properly. Remember: All motor vehicles are different, and all children are different; make sure children take this five-steptest for every car in which they ride. Moving from a booster seat to a seat belt too soon is just one of the many mistakes that certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians find.

Avoid these eight common mistakes when installing your child’s car seat or booster seat:

1. Turning the child forward facing too soon

2. Not adjusting the harness snugly against the child

3. Not securing the car seat in the vehicle properly

4. Forgetting to register the car seat for recall notifications

5. Having toys or other items unsecured in the vehicle

6. Not using the lower anchors/LATCH system as approved

7. Not using the top tether on a forward facing car seat

8. Moving to the next car seat or booster seat too soon

If properly installing and using a car seat or booster seems overwhelming, AAA and the Illinois Department of Transportation are partnering with dozens of agencies across the state to help parents and caregivers install their car seats correctly. During National Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept.17-23,93 car seat checks will be held throughout the state. To find a car seat check in your area, please visit:

Remember: All children younger than age 13 should ride in the back seat.Take your car seat to the limit!