Car Seat Confusion
By: Spencer Williams
Updated: November 14, 2012
Car seat confusion-parents and care givers trying to figure out the right way to install a car safety seat. The government says about seventy three percent of parents install them incorrectly. That's the bad news.
The good news is, recent crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show car seats have reached a milestone. It recently gave top safety ratings to more safety seat models than ever before. But they only protect your child if you put them in properly.
Car seat safety check stations are held around the country. And the checks are free. Nationally certified car seat technicians teach parents the proper way to install the seats. "A lot of times there are just so many little details to look at that it gives just some great piece of mind they come here and know that it's done properly," explained safety expert Emilie Crown.
David Strickland, the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said, "The number one cause of fatalities for children between the ages of one and thirteen is traffic crashes. It's a huge issue for us." He added, "Not being properly belted in can be the difference between a child having no injuries and a child frankly having very severe injuries."
But getting children properly belted is confusing. The safest seat depends on the weight and height of your child. Then there's rear-facing, forward-facing, booster seats, and how all these seats hook into different models of cars is staggering. And regulations and safety standards have changed over the years.
Here's a tip on getting a seat that fits with your car. Check with the manufacturer of the car you own. It might suggest a car seat to buy.
Figure out if your child is in the right car seat by visiting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website
You can also find more on car seats, boosters and seat belt safety from Safe Kids U.S.A.
Get crash test information on car seats from the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety:
To find the child car seat inspection station nearest you: http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm
