WARNING !

Many children, aged four to six, are riding at risk in cars all across our city. Could your child be one of them? Many times drivers allow small children to ride in the front seat, using the regular seatbelt/shoulder-harness combination. This may actually put the child at risk for serious harm if the vehicle is involved in a collision.

Vehicle Code Section 27360
No driver shall transport on a highway any child in a motor vehicle, as defined in Section 27315, without providing and properly securing the child in a child passenger restraint system meeting applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards

• Unless the child is at least one of the following:
  (1) Six years of age or older.
  (2) Weighs 60 pounds or more.
  
• No parent or legal guardian, when present in a motor vehicle, as defined in Section 27315, shall permit his or her child or ward to be transported upon a highway in the motor vehicle without providing and properly securing the child or ward, in a child passenger restraint system meeting applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards
  
• Unless the child or ward is at least one of the following:
  (1) Six years of age or older.
  (2) Weighs 60 pounds or more.

There are three common types of child safety seats:

The infant seat 

The High-Back Booster Seat

The Backless Booster Seat

Any of these child safety seats need to be used in conjunction with the vehicle's lap and shoulder belts. The booster seats raise the child so that the vehicle lap and shoulder belts can be positioned properly, and the child's knees can bend naturally.

If your car's seat back is lower than your child's ears, use the high-back booster seat to help protect their head and neck.

If your car's seat back is higher than your child's ears, you should use the backless booster seat.

Remember...a child safety seat needs to be used each and every time you put a child into your car, unless they are over six years of age, or weigh more than 60 pounds.

The back seat is the safest place for all children to ride.

And don't forget to secure an empty child safety seat. You won't want it flying around the inside of your car hitting you or another passenger in the back of the head when you make a sudden stop.

Car Seat Inspection/Installation
You may bring your car and child safety seat to the SAFE KIDS Coalition located at the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, 725 Welch Road in Palo Alto to get some help installing your child safety seat, or to have the installation of the seat checked. Kindly call 650-736-2981 to make an appointment to have an inspection done.

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office will conduct safety inspections in Redwood City by appointment only. Please call 650-363-4531 for appointment information.

If you are an AAA Member, you may contact one of their district offices to schedule an appointment for assistance with the installation or inspection of your car seat. Click here for a list of offices currently offering this service.