Child Passenger Safety

All children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat.

Proper Child Safety Seat Use Chart
Buckle Everyone. Children Age 12 and Under in Back!
  INFANTS TODDLER YOUNG CHILDREN
WEIGHT Birth to 1 year
up to 20-22 lbs.		 Over 1 year and
Over 20 lbs.-40 lbs.		 Over 40 lbs.
Ages 4-8, unless 4'9''.
TYPE of SEAT Infant only or rear-facing convertible Convertible / Forward-facing Belt positioning booster seat
SEAT POSITION Rear-facing only Forward-facing Forward-facing
ALWAYS MAKE SURE: Children to one year and at least 20 lbs. in rear-facing seats

Harness straps at or below shoulder level		 Harness straps should be at or above shoulders

Most seats require top slot for forward-facing		 Belt positioning booster seats must be used with both lap and shoulder belt.

Make sure the lap belt fits low and tight across the lap/upper thigh area and the shoulder belt fits snug crossing the chest and shoulder to avoid abdominal injuries
WARNING All children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat All children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat All children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat

 

Child Passenger Safety Links

Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Children's Safety Network
National Transportation Safety Board
American Academy of Pediatrics
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
National SAFE KIDS Campaign
The Guide to Community Preventive Services

 

Would you like to have your child safety seat inspected by a certified technician?  The Bedford Police Department has three certified Safety Seat Technicians that can assist you in installing a new seat or inspecting an existing seat that you have in your vehicle.  You can call (781)-275-1212 and ask for extension 151 and Traffic Enforcement Officer Marc Saucier will get back to you as soon as possible to set up an appointment. Please be advised that we are backed-up and it may take awhile for a return call. 

For more information on child passenger safety, please go to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) website or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's web site at www.nhtsa.dot.gov