Child Safety Seat Recommendations

·         Infants should be placed in a rear facing child safety seat until they are at least 20 pounds AND 1 year of age.

·         Children over 1 year of age weighing 20 - 40 pounds should ride in forward facing child safety seats.

·         Older children (approximately 4-8 years of age) should ride in belt-positioning booster seats until they are approximately 80 pounds and can use an adult-size lap and shoulder belt system.

·         Avoid using secondhand child safety seats especially if it does not have the original instruction booklet, if it has been used in a crash, if it does not have the manufacturer's date and model number on it or if it is more than six years old.

·         If your car has lap/shoulder combination belts, it could be critical to use a locking clip to properly secure your safety seat to the car.  Consult the vehicle owner’s manual.

·         The safest place for any child age 12 and under is in the back seat of the vehicle.

·         Children should never be held on an adult’s lap.  The force of the collision would tear a child from the adult’s arms.  If the adult is not wearing a safety belt, the child could be crushed between the adult’s body and the dashboard.

 Seatbelt Recommendations

 ·         Always use both the lap and shoulder belt. When worn properly, the shoulder belt should fit across the collarbone and the lap belt should fit low over the hips.

·         Never place the shoulder strap under your arm or behind your back.

·         Use belt-positioning booster seats for children who have outgrown their toddler safety seat (at about 4 years of age and 40 pounds). Booster seats help position an adult-size seatbelt for a safer fit on children.

 Air Bag Safety Recommendations

 ·         NEVER place a rear facing child safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger side air bag.

·         Place children age 12 years and younger in the back seat in an age and size-appropriate child safety seat or seatbelt.

·         If you are the driver, keep 10 - 12 inches between you and the steering wheel.

·         Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible.

·         Shorter drivers, who cannot get 10 inches from the steering wheel and still comfortably reach the pedals can purchase pedal extender (call (813) 932-8566 for more information).

·         Air bags are "supplemental" to seatbelts. Be sure you and your passengers use both the lap and shoulder portion of the seatbelt and children ride in appropriate child safety restraints in the back seat.

·         If you MUST disconnect your vehicle's air bag contact Utah Highway Safety at (801) 293 -2480 or log onto the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at http://www/nhtsa.dot.gov for information.

Utah Safety Restraint Use Law

Utah law requires all motor vehicle occupants to be wearing a seatbelt when traveling in a motor vehicle. The purpose of this law is to protect Utahns from needless death and injury and reduce taxpayer costs resulting from traffic collisions.  The law is a secondary law, which means a person may be issued a citation only when the police officer has stopped the vehicle for another reason. Any person who violates this law is subject to a fine of $45, reduced to $15 upon completion of a traffic safety educational class. Exceptions to the law include, delivery personnel, rural letter carriers, persons driving vehicles used for farm purposes, individuals in motor vehicles manufactured before July 1, 1966, and individuals with physically disabling or medical condition which would prevent appropriate use of a safety belt. Visitors from outside Utah are also required to wear a seatbelt when traveling in Utah. The law is primary for drivers and passengers under age 19 years. Children age 4 years and under must ride in an approved child safety seat and children aged 5 to 19 years must ride in an approved child safety seat or seatbelt. This is a primary law, which means a law enforcement officer can stop a vehicle if he/she notices children are not properly restrained. A fine can be issued solely for not restraining a child under the age of 19 years and violators will be subject to a fine of not more than $45. The first offense shall be dismissed if the driver shows proof of acquiring a child safety seat or seatbelt.  The driver is responsible for unrestrained occupants in the vehicle under the age of 16, whether or not they are the parents of the unrestrained child.