Infant Car Seats

Did you know through The Co-operators Buckle Up Bears Program in 2003, over 350 car seats were checked at 33 clinics and eight-seven per cent of the car seats inspected were used and installed incorrectly.

Some common errors included:

• Infant car seats were not installed rear-facing
• Forward facing car seats were not tethered

Please visit The Co-operators Buckle Up Bears web page for more information on recalls or car seat clinics in your area.

Booster Seats

Education on the correct installation and use of vehicle child restraints can help make families and communities safer. Co-operators is making a difference with the safety expertise and counsel for the Canada Safety Council and the Infant and Toddler Safety Association.

Did you know?

• Four out of every five kids are not correctly buckled up while riding in motor vehicles
• Motor vehicle collisions are the number one cause of death for children ages 1 to 9
• 75% of crash-related deaths and serious injuries can be prevented by the correct use of a vehicle child restraint on every trip

Ontario has now joined Quebec and Nova Scotia by passing a mandatory Booster Seat legislation effective September 1, 2005. In Ontario, booster seats are required for children under the age of eight or who weigh between 18 - 36 kg (40 - 80 lbs) or who stand less than 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall.

The penalty for not complying with the law is a $90 fine and two demerit points.

Does your child require a booster seat?

Is the child at least 1.45 m (4 ft. 9 in.) tall?

• Does the child weigh less than 18 kg (40 lbs) or more then 36 kg (80 lbs)?
• Does the child sit back against the vehicle seat?
• Do the child's knees bend comfortably over the seat edge?
• Is the shoulder belt centered on the child's chest?
• Does the lap belt sit on the child's thighs?

If you answered NO to any one of the above questions - the answer is YES, your child needs a booster seat to travel safely in a vehicle.

Click here for more information on booster seat safety.

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