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stage 3: Booster Seat with Lap/Shoulder Belt
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends and It Is the law
In Massachusetts that all children who have outgrown child safety seats should
be properly restrained In belt-posltloning booster seats until they are at least 8
years old, unless they are 4 feet 9 Inches tall. The American Academy of
Pediatrics recommends the use of belt positioning booster seats but not the use

of shield boosters.

Stage 4: Lap/Shoulder Belt
Keep your child In a car seat or booster seat for as long as possible. Make
every effort to teach your child to use seat belts properly. The shoulder belt
should lie across the shoulder, not the neck or throat. The lap belt must be low
and flat across the hips, not the stomach. The child's knees should bend easily
over the edge of the vehicle seat. If the seat belt does not fit your child correctly,
she should stay In a booster seat until the belt fits.

^ In addition to being much safer In a car seat or seat belt, most children will

behave better allowing you to pay closer attention to your driving.

Cars with passenger side air bags create a risk for children seated In the front
"1 seat. An Infant or child under the age of 12 years should never be placed In the

front seat If there Is a passenger side air bag In place. It Is preferable that a car
seat be In the back seat with the safest place being the middle of the rear seat.
If the child must ride In front (pickup truck) disengage the alrbag.

For more Information about Car Safety Seats ask for the AAP Pamphlet Car
Safety Seats: A Guide for Families. If you have Internet access two helpful
websites are: www.aap.org and www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Parents should also be buckled Into their seats In a car. An unbuckled

passenger or driver Is a hazard to the other occupants of the car. In the event of
an accident, the unrestrained person can be thrown Into the other passengers
pii causing Injury or death. You are the most important people In your child's life.
Set a good example by wearing your seat belt; you are your child's role model.

Some other car safety tips are:
^ *00 not allow children to sit on the front seat or stand up In the car.

• Do not allow children to hold toys out the window or to throw trash out.
• Never ride In a car with all the windows and vents closed even though

the car Is alr-condltloned.

Pi) • Keep all the doors locked at all times.
• Use safety locks on rear car doors.
• Have behavior rules In the car to prevent distracting the driver.
• Remember that dusk Is the most dangerous time for driving.

On long trips:
• Stop frequently (at least every two hours) well off the road; get out of

the car to stretch and walk.

pil • Take something along to keep the children quietly occupied.
• Do not plan to travel too far In one day.

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