Protecting Child Passengers; Children should sit properly restrained in a rear seat.- Page 72

71

Continued

Safe Driving

Child Safety

Protecting Child Passengers

Each year, many children are injured or killed in vehicle crashes because they are 
either unrestrained or not properly restrained. In fact, vehicle crashes are the 
number one cause of death of children ages 12 and under.

To reduce the number of child deaths and injuries, every state, Canadian province 
and territory requires that infants and children be properly restrained when they ride 
in a vehicle.

Children should sit properly restrained in a rear seat.

 This is because:

•

An inflating front airbag can injure or kill a 
child sitting in the front seat.

•

A child in the front seat is more likely to 
interfere with the driver’s ability to safely 
control the vehicle.

•

Statistics show that children of all sizes and 
ages are safer when they are properly 
restrained in a rear seat.

1

Protecting Child Passengers

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
and Transport Canada recommend that all children 
ages 12 and under be properly restrained in a rear 
seat. Some states or provinces/territories have laws 
restricting where children may ride.

3

WARNING

Children who are unrestrained or 
improperly restrained can be seriously 
injured or killed in a crash.

Any child too small for a seat belt should be 
properly restrained in a child seat. A larger 
child should be properly restrained with a 
seat belt, using a booster seat if necessary.