Car Safety

2018 Car Seat Recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• Children’s car seats should face the rear until AT LEAST 2 years of age, and well beyond is preferable.
• Children should then be in a forward-facing, five-point car seat until they meet the weight or height limit of that brand of car seat.
• Children should sit in a booster seat until they are AT LEAST 8 years old AND reach a height of 4 feet 9 inches tall.
• Teens should not sit in the front passenger seat until age 13 years.
• Make sure your child’s car seat is a current model in good condition and properly installed.
• Always buckle up.
• Place your cell phone or another essential items next to your child’s car seat so you never forget to take your child out of the car after you park.
• Walk behind your car before backing up to be sure no children are playing behind or nearby your car.
• Keep your parked car’s windows up and doors locked so young children cannot climb inside.
• Don’t let your children play near a street.
• Teach kids to hold hands with an adult and look both ways when crossing a street, no matter how quiet that street.
• Teach kids to touch your car when you are loading or unloading in a parking lot so they don’t stray from the car and get hit by another driver.
• Enroll your teenage driver in Driver’s Education.
• Spend more time than recommended driving with your teen and teaching them responsible driving skills.
• Never text and drive and be 100% consistent that your teen never have their phone in their hand while driving.
• Encourage young drivers to drive during daylight hours — accident rates involving teens triple after dark.