Car Seat Safety

Newest Recommendations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released recommendations for children including:

Birth – 12 Months:

Children under the age of 1 should always ride in a rear-facing seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant only seats can only be used rear facing. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.

1 – 3 Years:

Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether.

4 – 7 Years:

Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.

8 – 12 Years:

Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it’s safer there.

For more information, visit: www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/right-seat

Maine’s Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Law

Maine’s Child Passenger Safety (CPS) law is one of the strongest in the country. The law requires that:

Children must ride in a rear-facing child restraint system until they turn two years of age
Children who weigh 55 lbs. or less, must ride in a federally approved five-point harness child restraint system
Children who weigh less than 80 lbs., are less than 4 feet 9 inches in height, and are less than 8 years of age, must be in a booster seat
A child under 12 yrs. old should be properly secured in the back seat of the vehicle, if possible.
*Unless in rare circumstances, the child exceeds the child safety seat manufacturer’s instructions, and no other option is available

Car Seat Safety Checkpoint Events:

Please make an appointment by clicking below.
Where: 270 Main Street, Gorham, ME 04038

Booking a Car Seat Safety Checkpoint Appointment

Click here to select an appointment date and time.

Car Seat Contact Information:

Email: [email protected]

Bus Information & Safe Transportation for Preschoolers on School Buses

Though not required, when a school transports a public preschool child, the Maine Department of Education recommends that the standard of care offered to public preschool students meet the standard of care as defined by “Guideline for the Safe Transportation of Preschool Age Children in School Buses,” which is provided by the National Highway Transportation Safety Agency. Children should be in a child safety restraint system (CSRS) appropriate for the age, weight and height of the student. Consider having at least one aide on board the bus to assist with loading, unloading, correct security of a CSRS and for behavior and emotional support. Transportation offices should offer training, communication and operational policy items for drivers, aides, parents, students and routes.

School districts interested in training can email [email protected].

Reference:

Maine DOE Pre K 05-071 Chapter 124