Making Traffic Safety a Family Affair

Kids and car rides are a part of family life. Whether you are on your way to the corner store or driving the kids to school, buckling up and doing it properly are vital to keep everyone safe for the journey.

"Children improperly restrained in a motor vehicle have an increased risk of being severely injured or killed in the event of a collision," says Jeanette Espie, Executive Director of Alberta's Traffic Safety Initiative.

Learning the basics about child restraints will help you choose a restraint that's the right fit for your child and the vehicle. Always use a child restraint that meets the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) and follow these rules:

• Secure children weighing less than 9 kg (20lb.) in a properly installed rear-facing child restraint.
• Use a forward-facing restraint for children weighing 9 to 18kg (20-40lbs). Secure the child restraint with the vehicle's seat belt and a tether strap attached to the tether anchor. Each child restraint requires a separate tether anchor. Refer to the restraint instructions and your vehicle owner's manual.
• Use a booster seat or the vehicle seat belt after your child weighs more than 18kg (40 lb.). Booster seats help position the vehicle's seat belt properly on a child, as well as allowing your child to see more of what's going on.
• Seat children younger than 12 in the back seat especially if your vehicle has a passenger-side airbag.
• Get your restraint inspected. Contact your local Public Health Centre to have trained personnel ensure your restraint is safe and is correctly installed.

When used correctly, child restraints reduce fatalities and serious injuries by about 70 per cent. You should also know these important facts:

• Replace restraints with cracks, warps or if the frame is bent, or if it has been involved in a collision.
• Replace a restraint that is older than 10 years. Check if your child restraint has an expiry date.
• Seat children in the safest place in a vehicle – the centre of the back seat, if possible.
• Place restraints only on vehicle seats with seat backs that lock into place.
• Ensure children remain in their restraints for as long as possible. It provides the best protections in a moving vehicle.
• Stop as soon as it is safely possible if you need to attend to the needs of a child. Never unbuckle a child in a moving vehicle.
• Store sharp and heavy objects in a safe location away from passengers such as in the trunk of the vehicle.
• Avoid giving a child food or a bottle while travelling in the vehicle. A bump or swerve could cause these objects to injure the child or cause him or her to choke.
• Dress your child in clothing with legs. The restraint harness and crotch straps must pass between the child's legs.
• Make sure the harness is adjusted to the proper height and snugness.
• Check the fabric and metal buckles before putting a child into the restraint on a hot or sunny day. Covering the safety seat with a light-covered blanket when you leave the car prevents the restraint and metal buckles from getting too hot.
• Proper tether anchorage and tether strap.
• Anchor the child restraint with the vehicle seat belt and tether anchor even when the restraint is unoccupied. In a crash, if unrestrained it may injury someone.
• Ensure that every passenger is properly secured in the vehicle. Drivers are also subjected to a fine for each passenger not properly secured.

"Think of choosing a child restraint as you would think of purchasing clothing," adds Gord Kijek, Manager of Safety Education for Alberta Transportation . "You wouldn't purchase clothes without at least holding them up or trying them on. While in the store, place your child in various restraints to see if it's a good fit."

Before purchasing a child restraint, ask the store clerk if it is possible to take the seat out to your vehicle to ensure it will properly fit within the rear seat of your vehicle. Each child restraint may fit differently in your vehicle, and some seats might fit better than others. Always follow the manufacturers instructions to ensure your installing the child restraint correctly and refer to your vehicle owner's manual or the vehicle dealership.

Be careful to install the child restraint correctly in every vehicle the child is travelling in. Whether kids are riding in the family car or in the vehicle of grandparents, relative or caregiver, the driver must ensure all children are properly secured.

"By setting an example and using a seat belt, you are also reinforcing good safety practices. Using occupant restraints must be part of travelling in a vehicle, no matter how short the journey," reinforces Espie. "Ensure safety is a priority in your family by making 'buckling up' a family affair."