Department of Social Services

Child Passenger Safety &

Occupant Restraint

Presented by the Monroe County Office of Traffic Safety

Deb DeCaire
Jean Triest
Vehicle Occupant
Protection Systems
 Passive Protection: Air Bags

FRONTAL: Driver, Passenger and Knee

HEAD: Tube and Curtain
CHEST: Door and Seat Mounted
 Air Bags: Frontal

Driver

Passenger
Knee
 Side Air Bags
Chest

Chest/Head

Head only
 Other Passive Protection
• Crushable frames
• Reinforced passenger compartment
• Friendly interior
– Padding
– Head restraints
– Laminated windshields
– Recessed knobs
 Active Protection

• Lap belts “2-point”

• Lap and shoulder belts
“3-point”
• Child restraint systems
 Effectiveness of Child Restraints
• 71% effective in reducing infant deaths
• 54% effective in reducing toddler deaths
• 69% effective in reducing hospitalization need
• Children = 37% less likely to be fatally injured
riding in the rear seat
NEW YORK STATE RESTRAINT LAW

• All front seat occupants must use a seatbelt

• All back seat occupants under the age of 16 must use a

seatbelt

• All children under the age of 7 must use an appropriate

child restraint system (car seat or booster seat)
 BEST PRACTICE FOR
RESTRAINT USE
• All occupants restrained no matter their age or location in the car

• Rear facing child restraint –

minimum standard is 1 year old AND 20 pounds

• Forward facing restraint with an internal harness – up to the

seat’s weight limit (usually 40 pounds)

• Booster seat – up to the weight or height limit is exceeded

(usually 80-100 pounds or over 4ft. 9 in.)

• Vehicle seat belt when the 5 step test is met

Vehicle
Locking
Systems
Parts of a Safety Belt

• Webbing
• Anchor Points
• Latch Plate
• Buckle
• Retractor
 Locking Latch Plate

Locked

Locking Bar

Not Locked
 Cinching/Lightweight Locking Latch
Plates

Some may release when

enough pressure is
applied
Sliding Latch Plates
 Sewn Latch Plates

Lap Only Lap and Shoulder

Switchable Latch Plate
Adult Sliding Latch Plate Position

Child Restraint Locking Latch Plate Position

Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)

Ratchet

•Allows belt to be pulled in

one motion until fastened
•Then operates as a ratchet,
winding in slack, preventing
further extension (until
completely rewound)
Webbing
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
Switchable Retractor

• Manually adjusted from

ELR to ALR
• Most pull all webbing
out for switch to ALR
• Others have a button for
switch to ALR
Hands-On
Exercise 1
In Your
Vehicle
CSS Parts & Functions
Shell/Frame

Padding/Cover

Harness slots

Harness straps

Retainer clip/tie
 CSS Parts & Functions
Harness adjustment
Front-facing

Rear-facing
CSS Parts & Functions
Splitter Plate

Buckle
Belt Paths

Recline adjustment
 CSS Parts & Functions

Level Indicator

Labels

Instructions / Location
CSS Parts & Functions

Registration Card
CSS Parts & Functions
Locking Clip
CSS Parts & Functions

Adjustment Foot

Detachable Base
 CSS Parts & Functions
Carry handle BPB shoulder belt guide

Rebound
control
 CSS Parts & Functions
LATCH

Tether

Lower anchorage
attachments
 Factors to Consider
When Selecting Restraints
• Safety • Compatibility
– Certification • Convenient to use
– History • Comfort
– Product life
• Appropriate for child
– Age
– Size
– Physical development
– Behavioral needs
 Rear Facing Only (Infant Seat)
• Rear facing ONLY
• Birth/5pounds to 17 - 22 pounds (most models)
or when head is 1” below top of shell
 Rear Facing Convertible
• Rear-facing until 20 to 30/35 lbs and at least one year old
• Use in reclined position

5 Point Harness Tray Shield T Shield

 Securing Child In Rear Facing Seats
• Back & bottom flat into
CRS
• Rolled cloth at crotch
strap if necessary
• Blankets at sides for
positioning
• Harness at or below
shoulders
• Harness snug
• Retainer clip at armpit
level
 Rear-Facing Back Angle

• Back is primary restraint

• Balance with comfort and
keeping airway open
• Range - 30o to 45o - according to
manufacturer’s instructions
• Newborns more reclined
• More upright as child grows
• Car bed option for special needs

Courtesy of Kathleen Weber

Child Passenger Protection Research Program
University of Michigan Medical School
 Convertible Seat
Forward facing
• Over 1 year and 20-40+ lbs
• Seat in upright or semi-reclined
position
• Harness
– Can be 5-Point, T-Shield, or Tray
Shield
– Harness in reinforced slots at or
above shoulders
– Generally must use top slots when
turned to face front
 Forward Facing Only Seats

• Forward-facing for
children over 1 year old
from 20-50+ pounds
• Some can ONLY be
used with the harness
• Others have removable
harness
 Securing Child Forward Facing

• Avoid bulky clothing

• Back and bottom flat into
CRS
• Proper harness slots
• Harness snug
• Retainer clip at armpit
level
 Booster Seats
• Provides transition from
CRs with harness to
vehicle lap and shoulder
belts
• Minimum weight ranges
30-40 lbs
• Maximum weight ranges Incorrect Belt Fit

60-100 lbs
• Minimun and maximum
Correct Belt Fit with
height limits vary Belt Positioning
Booster
Backless Belt Positioning Booster
• MUST be used with lap
and shoulder belt
• Guides lap belt across
upper thighs and
shoulder belt across chest
• Some models have
shoulder belt positioners
• Some have removable
shields
High Back
Belt Positioning Booster
• MUST be used with lap and
shoulder belt
• Guides lap belt across upper
thighs and shoulder belt
across chest
• Current models have
shoulder belt positioners
• Provides head restraint for
low back vehicle seats
• Some have removable backs
 Seat Belt Syndrome

• Spinal cord or soft tissue

damage due to
– Improper placement of lap
belt over the abdomen
– Lap belt that rides up onto
abdomen
 THE 5-STEP TEST
1. Does the child sit all the way back against the vehicle seat?

2. Do the child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the vehicle

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 entire trip?

If you answer “no” to any of these questions, the child needs a booster
seat to make both the shoulder and lap belt fit right for the best crash
protection.
 Hands-On Exercise 2
Using the information known about “your child”:
– Select the appropriate CRS
– Configure CRS correctly for child
– Explain why you chose that restraint system
Location in Vehicle
What is the safest location?
 Location in Vehicle
Safest location
considerations:
– Front or back seat?
• Back seat is best for all
children
• Center rear is safest
• Sometimes front seat is a
better option
• Never place rear facing infant
in front of active air bag
 Location in Vehicle
• Safest location considerations:
– Vehicle seat design
– Type of safety belt systems or LATCH
– Needs of all passengers (children and adults)
 Location in Vehicle

Special considerations for

rear facing seats:
– Space requirements
– Seat slope
 Location in Vehicle
• Noodles or towels help
achieve proper recline
angle
• Avoid over reclining
• Avoid interfering with NO!
safety belt routing

YES
 Location in Vehicle
Special considerations for forward facing seats:
– Width of CRS
– Size of vehicle
– Tether strap (length and anchor location)
 General Methods to Obtain a Tight
Installation

• CRS facing proper direction

• Correct belt path
• Compress vehicle seat cushion
• Buckle, tighten, lock the safety
belt
• No more than 1” of movement
at the belt path
 Three Ways to Lock a Safety Belt:
• Locking Latch Plate
• Locking Retractor
• Locking Clip (Regular or Belt shortening)
Using a Regular Locking Clip
• Route belt through correct belt path
and buckle
• Push down on CRS while pulling
up on webbing to tighten
• Hold both pieces of webbing
together and unbuckle
• Attach RLC within 1" of latch plate
and re-buckle
• Incorrect placement could cause the
safety belt to fail--introducing
slack, increasing head excursion,
and causing serious injury
 Installing the Flexible LATCH System
CRS
• Locate the lower anchor in
the vehicle seat
• Position CRS in appropriate
direction for size and age of
child
• Lock snap hooks or other
attachments to lower anchors
• Put weight on CRS and
tighten webbing and check
for tightness
• Attach tether strap (if
applicable)
 Function, Installation, and Use of
Tether Straps
• Tether strap can improve
performance of CRS when
its use is recommended by
the mfg.
• Reduces the forward
movement and rotation of
the seat
• Adds additional stability
to CRS installation
 Tether Anchors

•All passenger vehicles

made on or after 9/1/00
are required to be
equipped with tether
anchor points installed
•Consult the vehicle
owners’ manual to
determine correct
anchor location
 Tether Anchors

• Vehicles 1986 to
September, 1999 have
tether anchor locations
• Locations will have pre-
drilled holes, “dimples”
marking anchor points to
drill, or welded nuts for
anchors
 Hands-On
Exercise
In Your Vehicle