A recent Canadian survey revealed something intriguing about how parents think about car safety for kids. Although four out of five parents said they supported a booster seat law, only 30 per cent of Canadian children aged four to eight actually use boosters. Translation: 1.8 million Canadian children are more at risk when they ride in a vehicle using only a seat belt.

Boosters lower injury risk

Although seatbelts are an effective safety device, they’re designed for adults. When a child is too small for a seat belt, it cuts across his or her neck and rides up on the abdomen. A serious collision could result in life-threatening injuries to the ribs, neck, spine and internal organs.

A booster seat raises the child up so the belt covers the strongest part of the body. It also means he or she can see out the window. This makes for a quieter and safer journey!

Children should use a booster seat until all of the following apply*:

• They are nine or 10 years of age
  
  
• They have a seated height of 74 cm (29 in.), or are at least four feet, nine inches tall
  
  
• They can sit all the way back against the vehicle seat with knees bent comfortably over the edge
  
  
• The lap belt rests across their upper thighs and shoulder belt is centred on the shoulder and chest at all times

Five tips to keep young riders safe

1. If your child is over 18kg (40 lb.), has outgrown their car seat with five-point harnessing, and does not meet the criteria above, he or she should use a booster seat. Kids have outgrown their forward-facing car seat when the top of their ears are above the top of the seat, their shoulders are above the top harness position or they have exceeded the maximum weight for the seat.
   
   
2. Ensure you position both the lap and the shoulder belt properly so they will hold your child in place in the event of a collision or sudden stop. The lap belt should be on the thighs and the shoulder belt should be centered on the shoulder and chest.
   
   
3. Never tuck the shoulder belt under the child’s arm or behind the back.
   
   
4. Only use a booster seat without built-in head and neck protection when the vehicle head restraint is tall enough to support the head and neck. Otherwise, opt for a high-back booster seat.
   
   
5. Remember to follow the five criteria above to help you decide when it is safe to move your child out of the booster seat.

Safety first wherever you live

Not every province or territory has mandatory booster seat legislation. Currently Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut are without such laws for children under four feet, nine inches tall. Even if your area does not have one, why not protect those most important to you and use a booster no matter where you drive? Give your kids a safety boost and buckle up.

*Recommendations and criteria are based on safety recommendations made by the Infant and Toddler Safety Association; these are not based on provincial legislative requirements.