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By rdnewsNOW staff

road safety

Alberta RCMP reminding motorists about child seat safety

Nov 7, 2024 | 1:18 PM

The Alberta RCMP is encouraging motorists to prioritize child seat safety this winter.

As the temperature continues to drop over the next month that means more potential hazardous road conditions on roadways and highways.

With that, Mounties say it becomes more important for Albertans to ensure their children are safe by securing them in the right car or booster seats.

“As a driver, it’s your responsibility to ensure all passengers are properly secured,” said Sgt. Turnbull, Alberta RCMP Traffic in a media release.

“It’s important that all children are in the appropriate seat type for their size, and that it is correctly installed. This can make a huge difference in reducing the risk of injury during travel.”

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Police say all child car and booster seats should be installed in the rear seat of the vehicle and should have a Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards sticker on it, which means it meets national safety regulations.

Buying used car seats is discouraged as it could be damaged or out of date. In addition, after installing a car seat, they should conduct the “inch test” by attempting to move the seat from side-to-side and forward-to-back. If the seat moves more than an inch, it’s not secured tightly enough.

For passengers aged from birth to two years old, they should be placed in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight of 22 pounds. Once they outgrow it, they can ride in a forward facing secured seat.

At six years old or weighing more than 40 pounds, they can move from their forward-facing seat to a booster seat.

The booster seat should elevate the child to sit comfortably with their back against the seat and their knees bent over the edge. It’s also important to opt for a high-back booster seat to allow for support for the child’s head and neck.