Stages of Seat Safety - Stage 4

find us near you

Seat Belts

Children must stay boostered until the adult seat belt fits. To judge if the adult belt fits, take the 5 step test.

  1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
  2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
  3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
  4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
  5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your child still needs a booster seat. Your child will be more comfortable, too! Children should remain in a booster until this test can be passed. This may be 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or even 13!

Children should remain in the back seat until at least 13. Before this age, kids’ immature bones can’t withstand the air bag, which explodes at 250-300 MPH in the front passenger seat.



Once the belt fits, the child should use it for every ride. Every passenger should buckle up – Every ride, every time!

Lighter fare:

CIOT
Watermelon – S. Australia
Over The Top Seat Belt Commercial
Clunk - Click Commercial

vt department of health child passenger safety program