Now: Child Passenger Safety Week

MINNEAPOLIS (Sept. 16, 2024) – Sept. 15 through Sept. 21 is national Child Passenger Safety Week, just as Minnesotans are navigating new car seat laws that took effect on Aug. 1. Minnesota’s updated child passenger safety requirements now align with national best practices by specifying who must use a child restraint, and how.

“This week is an important reminder for Minnesotans to keep child safety a top priority and prioritize proper car seat use," said Brynna Knapp with AAA Public Affairs.

AAA encourages Minnesota families to revisit the new laws and encourage loved ones to ensure their child is using the correct car seat - as research shows this can improve safety outcomes and reduce risk of fatalities. Per AAA analysis from 2018-2022, more than 4 million children ages 11 and younger were involved in car crashes while riding in a vehicle. Additional AAA research shows that, when used properly, infant seats, boosters, and seat belts will effectively protect young passengers – reducing fatalities by 71% for infants younger than 1 and by 54% for those younger than 4.

“Amid rising traffic fatalities in Minnesota, we have a responsibility to look out for one another - especially the most vulnerable among us," said Knapp.

"Taking the time to make sure child passengers are as safe as can be is simple, straightforward, and always the right thing to do. More specific requirements for more passengers lead to better safety outcomes.”

What changes were made in the new car seat law?

While the previous Minnesota statute instructed parents to follow a car seat’s manufacturer’s instructions on height and weight, the strengthened law requires that:

• Children under two sit rear-facing in an infant or convertible child safety seat.
• Children who are at least two years old and have outgrown the rear-facing seat with internal harness by either height or weight sit forward-facing with an internal harness.
• Children who are at least four years old and have outgrown the forward-facing seat with internal harness by either height or weight ride restrained in a belt-positioning booster seat using the lap belt and shoulder belt.
• Children who are 9 years old or have outgrown the booster seat and can pass the five-step test that demonstrates how the seat belt fits correctly ride restrained with a lap belt and shoulder bet secured correctly on the vehicle seat.
• Children under 13 years old must sit in the back seat if possible.

How do I know if my child’s seatbelt fits correctly?

Families can use the five-step test to correctly fit your child to their seatbelt:

1. The child should sit all the way back against the vehicle seat.
2. The child’s knees should bend over the edge of the vehicle seat.
3. The lap belt should fit snugly across the hips near the top of the child’s thighs, not the child’s abdomen.
4. The shoulder bet snugly crosses the center of the child’s chest and shoulder, not the child’s neck.
5. The child sits correctly, without slouching, for the duration of the ride.

How do I know if my child’s restraint system (car seat or booster seat) is installed correctly?

According to the National Digital Car Seat Check (NDCF) database, 74% of car seats inspected in 2023 were improperly installed or used. Minnesota families can utilize the following resources to ensure their car seats are correctly used:

• Visit AAA’s Car Seat FAQs for resources on which car seats are recommended, how to register your car seat and look for recall information, and safety tips when installing your child’s car seat.
   
• Learn how to properly install your car seat with a free inspection by a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.
   
• September 21 is National Seat Check Day and communities around Minnesota will be hosting seat checks. To find a car seat check in Minnesota, visit the Office of Traffic Safety’s Seat Check Finder.

Parents and caregivers can do a quick check of their car seats at home, here’s what to check for:

1. The car seat is installed tight enough on vehicle seats when using a seat belt for installation.
2. The car seat harness is snug enough on the child.
3. The harness is placed in the correct slots of the car seat for the child’s height and installation direction.
4. The tether is used on forward-facing seats.