Wednesday, Sept. 20 – Focus on LOCATION

Wednesday, Sept.  20 – Focus on LOCATION

What: Placing the car seat or booster seat in an appropriate location in the vehicle.
Why: For all children under the age of 13, the back seat is the safest place for them to ride. They are better
protected from head-on collisions, which constitute about 60 percent of all crashes. In addition, they are not
at risk for being injured by the passenger air bag, which is designed for adult protection in conjunction with
a seat belt. Familiarize yourself with the location of the air bags in your vehicle, with the help of your vehicle
owner’s manual. A rear-facing car seat should NEVER be placed in front of an active air bag. Considering
the best location for your child’s car seat should also consider the needs of other passengers who ride in the
vehicle and the seating position that will provide an optimal installation for your child’s car seat. The middle
seat in the back is often referred to as the ‘best’ seat for car seats because of the protection from side impact
crashes, but any back seat position is a preferred location to install car seats. Also consider the needs of your
family; for example, if you often park on a busy street, place your child’s car seat on the curb side as opposed
to the street side for optimal protection for you and your child when entering and exiting the vehicle.