New Nevada Law Regarding Child Safety Seats

The new Nevada law that becomes effective on June 1, 2004, will require children up to age six and weighing 60 pounds or less to be restrained properly in a motor vehicle.

Statistics

According to the National SAFE KIDS campaign, 99% of all children eight years and under are improperly restrained. In Washoe County, 98% of children are improperly restrained. The National SAFE KIDS campaign recommends the use of child safety seats until children are 40 pounds and then the use of booster seats until children are 8 years old and 80 pounds or 4 feet 9 inches tall. In addition, children ages 2 to 5 who are restrained in adult safety belts are three and a half times more likely to suffer a serious injury and greater than four times more likely to suffer a serious head injury than children of the same ages who are restrained in child safety seats.

Inspection Program

REMSA’s Point of Impact child safety seat inspection and replacement program regularly hosts checkpoints where safety seats are inspected for correct installation and usage. Car seats and booster seats found to be unsafe or on a national or manufacturer’s recall list will be removed, destroyed and replaced at reduced costs and/or free of charge to qualifying families. This program is funded in part from the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety.

Questions To Ask to Determine If Your Child Is Safe

Does your child ride in the back seat? The back seat is generally the safest place in a crash. If your vehicle has a passenger air bag, it is essential for children 12 and under to ride in back.

Does your child ride facing the right way? Infants should ride in rear facing restraints (in the back seat) until age 1 and at least 20-22 lbs. Infants who weigh 20 lbs. before 1 year of age should ride in a restraint approved for higher rear facing weights. Always read your child restraint manual for instructions on properly using the restraint. Children over age one and at least 20 pounds may ride facing forward.

Does the safety belt hold the seat tightly in place? Put the belt through the correct slots. If your safety seat can be used facing either way, use the correct belt path for each direction. Check the vehicle owner's manual and safety seat instruction book for guidance.

Is the harness buckled snugly around your child? Keep harness straps snug over the child's shoulders. Place the chest clip at armpit level.

Does your child over 40 pounds have the best protection possible? Keep your child in a safety seat with a full harness as long as possible, at least until 40 pounds. Then use a belt-positioning booster seat which helps the adult lap and shoulder belt fit better. A belt-positioning booster seat is preferred for children between 40-80 pounds. It is used with the adult lap and shoulder belt.

How should a safety belt fit an older child? The child should be tall enough to sit without slouching, with knees bent at the edge of the seat, with feet on the floor. The lap belt must fit low and tight across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should rest over the shoulder and across the chest. Never put the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the child's back. The adult lap and shoulder belt system alone will not fit most children until they are at least 4'9" tall and weigh about 80 pounds.