Are most child safety seats installed properly?

Are most child safety seats installed properly?

That’s one child every 33 seconds. While most families put kids in car seats, the latest research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows 59 percent of car seats are not installed correctly. Other common installation mistakes include the car seat and harness being too loose.

Why is it import to properly install a child safety seat?

Child car seats are extremely effective at reducing the risk of injury or death to a child, but only if they are installed properly. In fact, a properly installed car seat, according to the Safety Council of Palm Beach County, is 71% effective at reducing injury and death.

How long does it take to install a car seat?

On some seats (hello, Evenflo) it can take a few minutes of fiddling to get it done. If your child has outgrown the forward-facing mode of your combination seat and is mature enough to ride in a booster seat, do the conversion at home for sure. Some of them can take 10-20 minutes the first time around.

What percentage of people install car seats incorrectly?

“Surveys from Australian researchers show more than 70 per cent of people had incorrect fitments in their cars,” Dr Newstead said. “There’s often a problem with the design of child restraints and this makes them quite complicated to fit.”

Why do some parents not use car seats?

Factors leading to errors in use included lower socio-economic status, lower education attainment and low levels of English literacy. “We as humans are very bad at risk perception. We drive everyday, but nothing happens for the most part,” says Baer, who isn’t surprised by the findings.

Can you install car seat in middle?

The safest place for your child’s car seat is in the back seat, away from active air bags. If you’re placing only one car seat in the back seat, install it in the center of the seat — if a good fit is possible. Placing the car seat in the center minimizes the risk of injury during a crash.

How long does the 2 hour car seat rule apply?

Many car seat manufacturers recommend that a baby should not be in a car seat for longer than 2 hours, within a 24 hour time period. This is because when a baby is in a semi-upright position for a prolonged period of time it can result in: 1. A strain on the baby’s still-developing spine.

Where is the safest place for the car seat?

back seat
The safest place for your child’s car seat is in the back seat, away from active air bags. If the car seat is placed in the front seat and the air bag inflates, it could hit the back of a rear-facing car seat — right where the child’s head is — and cause a serious or fatal injury.

Why are so many car seats installed incorrectly?

In fact, one NHTSA study determined that as many as four out of five car seats are installed incorrectly, be it from loose latch straps, twisted webbing or using the wrong seat based on a child’s weight and height. This week is Child Passenger Safety Week, so let’s clear up some common car-seat misconceptions. 1.

Where to go to check your child’s safety seat?

Technicians also check to make sure that the child using the seat is the right age and weight for that seat. Inspection stations are frequently located at local automobile dealerships, police stations, fire houses, hospitals, and many more places.

How do you install a baby car seat?

But in general, here’s how to securely install an infant car seat with a base: Detach the seat from its base. Install the base at the back of your car. Prefer the LATCH system if both your base and your car offer that option. Once the base is tightly installed, attach the car seat on its base.

Where is the best place to install a car seat?

It’s best to install a car seat in a rear-facing position on the back seat. The safest spot is usually the middle rear, provided the car seat fits correctly. If your car has side airbags, make sure your child sits properly in his seat and doesn’t lean close to, or against, the door or window.

What is the age limit for booster seats?

Children have to use booster seats so that the seat belt fits better. In general most booster seats can be used for children who are between four and twelve years of age and between 40 and 59 inches (100–150 cm) tall.