Greetings parents and kids! Officer Friendly here with some helpful tips on keeping kids safe while traveling during the Holidays.
We all need to buckle up when traveling in motor vehicles. Children depend on us adults to make sure they are safely buckled in their car seats before we hit the road.
Let’s go over some common car seat installation errors, current car seat laws, as well as some helpful resources. (Refer to the vehicle code sections listed for complete verbiage of law and any exceptions).
- CURRENT CALIFORNIA LAW: Effective January 1, 2017 children under 2 years old must be rear facing unless they weigh 40 pounds or more, or are 40 inches tall or more. Section 27360(b) of the California Vehicle Code (CVC).
- UNDER EIGHT (8) YEARS OLD: Children under eight years old shall be properly secured in the rear seat in an appropriate child passenger restraint system. Section 27360(a) CVC.
- CHOOSING A CAR SEAT: When choosing a car seat for your child, look at the height and weight limits of the seat. Make sure your child fits within the parameters indicated by the car seat manufacturer.
- CAR SEATS EXPIRE!: Did you know car seats expire? They may have an expiration date on the back of the seat shell or on a sticker. If you don’t see an expiration date, you can contact the manufacturer or count six (6) years from the manufacturer date listed on the seat.
- COMMON INSTALLATION ERRORS: Seat is too loose and moves once installed. Seats should not move more than an inch from side to side when tested at the belt path closest to the seat back. Latch and seat belt are used simultaneously. Unless the car seat manufacturer allows this, both restraints should not be used simultaneously. Top tether not used when forward facing. Always use the top tether when the seat is forward facing, even if you don’t use the lower anchors.
- RESOURCES: Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at 73705 Gerald Ford Dr., Palm Desert (760) 836-1600 and Thermal Sheriff’s Station at 86625 Airport Blvd., Thermal (760) 863-8990 are both car seat fitting stations with certified child passenger safety technicians. Call for an appointment.
Always consult the car seat owner’s manual and your vehicle owner’s manual for proper installation.
These are just a few tips from Officer Friendly!
The “Officer Friendly” column is provided to Coachella Valley Kids by the Riverside Sheriff. This issue’s “Officer Friendly” is Stacey Austin, Community Service Officer, Palm Desert Crime Prevention.
