Nationwide, at least 80 percent of children ages 4 to 7 are not properly secured in safety seats when traveling in a motor vehicle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
“The type of passenger seats required for safety changes as children grow," said Margaret Goertz with the ITD’s Office of Highway Operations and Safety. “It is important to make sure children are properly secured in safety seats designed for their age in order to avoid the unnecessary risk of being injured or killed in car crashes,” she added.
Idaho law requires that all children younger than 7 be properly secured in an appropriate child safety restraint in a vehicle. Violations of the state’s child safety seat laws carry a $60 fine.
NHTSA recommends following the “4 Steps for Kids” for child passenger seat protection:
“Make sure the child seat is attached correctly and tightly to the vehicle, the harness is tightly fastened, and the chest clip is being used correctly,” Goertz said.
For more information regarding child passenger safety, contact Goertz at (208) 334-8104. Recommendations also are available on ITD's Web site: itd.idaho.gov, click on Highways, then Office of Highway Safety homepage.