Child Passenger Safety
Utilizing proper restraints is critical for children. As they grow in age, height and weight, so will their restraints. Before graduating to a seat belt, a child will need a rear-facing car seat, a forward-facing car seat and a booster seat — and the right one must be correctly installed and used every time.
While loving parents, caregivers and other adults may believe they’re doing everything right, they often choose the wrong seat for their child or install it improperly without realizing it. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 46% of car seats and booster seats are used incorrectly.
To address this issue, NHTSA provides important resources to help parents and caregivers:
- Find the right car seat for their child
- Learn how to install it correctly
- Register the car seat to receive safety updates
Click here to learn more about the NHTSA guidelines.
There are also local resources available, including Safe Kids Oklahoma, which offers car seat checks throughout the year. Find an event near you through Safe Kids Oklahoma or Safe Kids Tulsa. Parents, caregivers and adults are also welcome to enlist the help of a certified technician.
Interactive Inspection Station Map
Oklahoma Laws
Oklahoma law requires every child 8 years old and younger to be properly secured in a child passenger restraint system. Follow these guidelines to keep children safe:
Safety Tips (1/6)
Read the instructions before putting your child in a car seat. Pay close attention to how you adjust the car seat's harness for a proper fit.
Safety Tips (2/6)
For a proper seat belt fit, the lap belt must be snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. Also, the shoulder belt should be snuggly across the shoulder and chest, not the neck or face.
Safety Tips (3/6)
Stand firm when your child protests using a car seat, booster seat, or a seat belt. Being properly restrained may save their life in a crash!
Safety Tips (4/6)
Remember! Your child should still ride in the back seat at least through age 12 because it's the safest place for them.
Safety Tips (5/6)
Ages 4-7: Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with harness until they reach the height or weight limit. Then it's time for a booster seat, but still in the back seat!
Safety Tips (6/6)
Ages 8-12: Keep your child in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit in a seat belt properly.
- Safety Tip 1
- Safety Tip 2
- Safety Tip 3
- Safety Tip 4
- Safety Tip 5
- Safety Tip 6
Choosing the wrong car seat is not a game you want to play in real life. Click here for more videos.
