February 2004

Colonel Paul McClellan
Superintendent
Ohio State Highway Patrol

Whether children travel by car, bicycle, school bus, or as pedestrians, it is everyone's responsibility to make sure each trip is as safe as possible.

Although the use of passenger restraints for children is increasing for all age groups, traffic crashes continue to be the leading cause of death for all children ages 6 through 15. In 2002, over 30,000 children, infant through age 5 were involved in crashes on Ohio’s roadways. Over 92 percent of those children were restrained in a child safety seat.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is participating in National Child Passenger Safety Week February 9 through 15. This program emphasizes the importance of safely transporting children throughout their childhood.

According to Ohio law, when children are being transported in a motor vehicle, they should be properly secured in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions in a child restraint system that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards.

The Patrol suggests following the guidelines below to keep children safe while traveling:

Child Safety Seats

• Always follow manufacturer’s instructions when installing a child safety seat. Serious injury or death could result if the child safety seat is not used and installed properly.
• Infants up to 20 pounds and under 1 year of age should ride in a rear-facing child seat. The child seat should be in the back seat and face the rear of the car, van, or truck. Harness straps should be at or below the infant’s shoulder.
• Children in rear facing child seats should never be placed in the front seat of vehicles equipped with a passenger-side air bag. A deploying air bag striking a rear-facing child seat can result in death or severe injury.
• Children over the age of 1 and at least 20 pounds may ride forward facing. Harness straps should be positioned at or above the child’s shoulders.
• The vehicle’s safety belt needs to hold the child safety seat tightly. Route the safety belt through the child safety seat as directed by the seat manufacturer. The child seat should not move more than one inch forward or sideways.
• There should be no slack in the harness and the straps should fit snugly. The chest clip should be at armpit level.

Booster Seats

• Children generally outgrow forward facing convertible child safety seats at about 40 pounds and 4 years of age.
• Children between 40 pounds and 80 pounds and less than 4’9” tall should be in a booster seat.
• A child, who cannot sit with his or her back straight against the vehicle seat cushion, with knees bent over a vehicle’s seat edge without slouching, should use a booster seat.
• A booster seat allows the adult-designed safety belt to be positioned correctly and safely - and offers children greater comfort and visibility.
• Parents should have their child safety seats inspected by a trained and certified child safety seat technician in their community.

Every child should be buckled in a child safety seat, a booster seat, or with a lap/shoulder belt that is appropriate for his/her age, weight and height. All children aged 12 and under should sit in the back seat of a motor vehicle whenever possible.

It’s about safety!