When driving a motor vehicle, it is your responsibility to keep all of your passengers safe. This includes your child. If you need to drive your children, then you need to understand safety precautions.
Here is what you need to know, according to New Jersey’s Office of the Attorney General.
Why are child seats so important?
In the United States, the most common cause of death for children more than six months old are car accidents. Even if you have a child seat, if you do not know how to use it properly, it does not protect your child. About three out of four of all parents do not secure their children properly.
To buckle your child into a seat is one of the simplest ways that you can avoid an accident that results in a child fatality. While your helmet must protect your child, you do need to make your choice based on your children’s and family’s needs.
How can you properly use a child seat?
To stay compliant with New Jersey law, you need to take the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety administration’s guidelines into consideration.
First, when choosing a seat, think about your child’s age. If he or she is under the age of eight or has not reached 57 inches yet, then your child needs to stay secure in the back of the vehicle. Any children under the age of two should have a secure rear-facing seat. Any children under the age of eight should have a seat. Those who are over eight years old, require a seatbelt.
