Appendix G - CPS Test Messages Study 2

Appendix G
Child Passenger Safety Test Messages – Study 2

[1] Reducing Car Crash Injury: Right Seat  Right Time  Right Use
1. Rear-Facing Seats: Children should use rear-facing seats in the back seat as long as possible to the rear-facing height

and weight limits for the seat (even up to age 2 or 3). If your seat has a rear-facing weight limit of 22 pounds or less, you
should change to a convertible seat with higher rear-facing limits and keep rear-facing for longer. Leg crowding is expected
and okay. It does not cause harm as long as the child is within the weight and height limits for the seat.

2. Forward-Facing Seats with Harnesses: Keep your child rear-facing until the top weight or height limits for the rear-

facing seat. Once top rear-facing limits are reached, use a forward-facing seat with a harness and a tether. Keep your child
in a car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit for the harness.

3. Booster Seats: Use seats with harnesses to the top weight or height limits for the harnesses. Once children outgrow

harnesses, use a booster seat in the back seat until the seat belt fits properly. A booster is often needed until a child is
around 4 feet 9 inches tall. Your child may be about 12 years old before he/she is ready for a seat belt.

4. Seat Belts: Older children should use a lap-shoulder seat belt in the back seat once they outgrow a booster seat. They
have not outgrown a booster seat until the seat belt fits correctly: (1) The shoulder strap should cross the center of the
chest and rest on the shoulder (not the neck). (2) The lap belt should fit low and snug on the upper thighs (not the
stomach). (3) The knees should bend at the edge of the vehicle seat when sitting all the way back.

Seats and kids vary! Check the seat’s labels to make sure your child is within the weight and height limits.
Unrestrained children are 3 times more likely to be injured. Kids are always safest in the back seat!
facebook.com/childpassengersafety

twitter.com/childseatsafety

www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS

[2]

 Right Time 
 Right Use
Reducing Car Crash Injury: Right Seat 

1. Rear-Facing Seats: Children should use rear-facing seats in the back seat as long as possible to the rear-facing height and weight
limits for the seat (even up to age 2 or 3). If your seat has a rear-facing weight limit of 22 pounds or less, you should change to a
convertible seat with higher rear-facing limits and keep rear-facing for longer. Leg crowding is expected and okay. It does not cause
harm as long as the child is within the weight and height limits for the seat.
•
•
•
•
•
•

Use the back seat; NEVER put a rear-facing seat in front of an active frontal airbag
Install the seat rear-facing at a 45 degree angle
Put your knee in the seat to install it tightly in the vehicle—there should be less than an inch of movement
If using the vehicle safety belt, you must lock it to keep it tight—refer to instructions for locking
You may use the lower anchor and tether (LATCH) system to install instead; Do not use the safety belt if using the lower anchors
Tighten the harness snugly with the chest clip at armpit level and shoulder straps at or below the shoulders

2. Forward-Facing Seats with Harnesses: Keep your child rear-facing until the top weight or height limits for the rear-facing

seat. Once top rear-facing limits are reached, use a forward-facing seat with a harness and a tether. Keep your child in a car seat with
a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit for the harness.
•
•
•
•
•

Put your knee in the seat to install it tightly in the vehicle—there should be less than an inch of movement
If using the vehicle safety belt, you must lock it to keep it tight—refer to instructions for locking
You may use the lower anchor and tether (LATCH) system to install instead; Do not use the safety belt if using the lower anchors
Always use the top tether (positioned tightly) when forward facing
Tighten the harness snugly with the chest clip at armpit level and shoulder straps at or above the shoulders

3. Booster Seats: Use seats with harnesses to the top weight or height limits for the harnesses. Once children outgrow harnesses,
use a booster seat in the back seat until the seat belt fits properly. A booster is often needed until a child is around 4 feet 9 inches
tall. Your child may be about 12 years old before he/she is ready for a seat belt.
•
•
•

The belt should fit low across the hips, cross the center of the chest, and rest on one shoulder away from the neck and face.
The shoulder belt is just as essential as the lap belt. Never place it behind the back or under the arm.
Be sure to use a high-back booster if the vehicle seat does not have head restraints.

4. Seat Belts: Older children should use a lap-shoulder seat belt in the back seat once they outgrow a booster seat. They have not

outgrown a booster seat until the seat belt fits correctly: (1) The shoulder strap should cross the center of the chest and rest on the
shoulder (not the neck). (2) The lap belt should fit low and snug on the upper thighs (not the stomach). (3) The knees should bend at
the edge of the vehicle seat when sitting all the way back.
•
•

The shoulder belt is just as essential as the lap belt. Never place it behind the back or under the arm.
The back seat is safest until age 13.

Seats and cars vary! Check the seat instructions and vehicle owner’s manual for help specific to your seat, child, & car.
Unrestrained children are 3 times more likely to be injured. Kids are always safest in the back seat!
facebook.com/childpassengersafety

twitter.com/childseatsafety

www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS

[3] Reducing Car Crash Injury:
•
•
•

Right Seat
Right Time
Right Use

Kids at Risk—Some Startling Facts:

•
•
•
•
•
•
•

3 out of 4 car seats are used incorrectly
Nearly half of the kids who die in car crashes are unrestrained
9 out of 10 kids’ car seats are turned forward-facing before they are ready
1 out of 4 kids are moved out of harnessed seats too early
1 out of 2 kids’ forward-facing car seats are not attached with a tether
3 out of 5 booster-age children are moved to safety belts too soon
3 out of 4 kids between ages 8 and 13 ride in the front seat frequently

1. Rear-Facing Seats: Children should use rear-facing seats in the back seat as long as possible to the rear-facing height

and weight limits for the seat (even up to age 2 or 3). If your seat has a rear-facing weight limit of 22 pounds or less, you
should change to a convertible seat with higher rear-facing limits and keep rear-facing for longer. Leg crowding is
expected and okay. It does not cause harm as long as the child is within the weight and height limits for the seat.

2. Forward-Facing Seats with Harnesses: Keep your child rear-facing until the top weight or height limits for the

rear-facing seat. Once top rear-facing limits are reached, use a forward-facing seat with a harness and a tether. Keep
your child in a car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit for the harness.

3. Booster Seats: Use seats with harnesses to the top weight or height limits for the harnesses. Once children outgrow

harnesses, use a booster seat in the back seat until the seat belt fits properly. A booster is often needed until a child is
around 4 feet 9 inches tall. Your child may be about 12 years old before he/she is ready for a seat belt.

4. Seat Belts: Older children should use a lap-shoulder seat belt in the back seat once they outgrow a booster seat. They
have not outgrown a booster seat until the seat belt fits correctly: (1) The shoulder strap should cross the center of the
chest and rest on the shoulder (not the neck). (2) The lap belt should fit low and snug on the upper thighs (not the
stomach). (3) The knees should bend at the edge of the vehicle seat when sitting all the way back.
Seats and kids vary! Check the seat’s labels to make sure your child is within the weight and height limits.
Unrestrained children are 3 times more likely to be injured. Kids are always safest in the back seat!
facebook.com/childpassengersafety

twitter.com/childseatsafety

www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS

[4]

 Right Time 
 Right Use
Reducing Car Crash Injury: Right Seat 

1. Rear-Facing Seats: Children should use rear-facing seats in the back seat as long as possible to the rear-facing height and weight
limits for the seat (even up to age 2 or 3). If your seat has a rear-facing weight limit of 22 pounds or less, you should change to a
convertible seat with higher rear-facing limits and keep rear-facing for longer. Leg crowding is expected and okay. It does not cause
harm as long as the child is within the weight and height limits for the seat.
•
•
•
•
•
•

Use the back seat; NEVER put a rear-facing seat in front of an active frontal airbag
Install the seat rear-facing at a 45 degree angle
Put your knee in the seat to install it tightly in the vehicle—there should be less than an inch of movement
If using the vehicle safety belt, you must lock it to keep it tight—refer to instructions for locking
You may use the lower anchor and tether (LATCH) system to install instead; Do not use the safety belt with the lower anchors
Tighten the harness snugly with the chest clip at armpit level and shoulder straps at or below the shoulders

2. Forward-Facing Seats with Harnesses: Keep your child rear-facing until the top weight or height limits for

the rear-facing seat. Once top rear-facing limits are reached, use a forward-facing seat with a harness and a tether.
Keep your child in a car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit for the harness.
•
•
•
•
•

Put your knee in the seat to install it tightly in the vehicle—there should be less than an inch of movement
If using the vehicle safety belt, you must lock it to keep it tight—refer to instructions for locking
You may use the lower anchor and tether (LATCH) system to install instead; Do not use the safety belt with the lower anchors
Always use the top tether (positioned tightly) when forward facing
Tighten the harness snugly with the chest clip at armpit level and shoulder straps at or above the shoulders

3. Booster Seats: Use seats with harnesses to the top weight or height limits for the harnesses. Once children

outgrow harnesses, use a booster seat in the back seat until the seat belt fits properly. A booster is often needed
until a child is around 4 feet 9 inches tall. Your child may be about 12 years old before he/she is ready for a belt.
• The belt should fit low across the hips, cross the center of the chest, and rest on one shoulder away from the neck and face.
• The shoulder belt is just as essential as the lap belt. Never place it behind the back or under the arm.
• Be sure to use a high-back booster if the vehicle seat does not have head restraints.

Kids at Risk—
Some Startling
Facts:
• 3 out of 4 car seats
are used incorrectly
• Nearly half of the kids
who die in car
crashes are
unrestrained
• 9 out of 10 kids’ car
seats are turned
forward-facing
before they are ready
• 1 out of 4 kids are
moved out of
harnessed seats too
early
• 1 out of 2 kids’
forward-facing car
seats are not
attached with a
tether
• 3 out of 5 boosterage children are
moved to safety belts
too soon
• 3 out of 4 kids
between ages 8 and
13 ride in the front
seat frequently

4. Seat Belts: Older children should use a lap-shoulder seat belt in the back seat once they outgrow a booster seat. They have not

outgrown a booster seat until the seat belt fits correctly: (1) The shoulder strap should cross the center of the chest and rest on the
shoulder (not the neck). (2) The lap belt should fit low and snug on the upper thighs (not the stomach). (3) The knees should bend at
the edge of the vehicle seat when sitting all the way back.
• The shoulder belt is just as essential as the lap belt. Never place it behind the back or under the arm.
• The back seat is safest until age 13.

Seats and cars vary! Check the seat instructions and vehicle owner’s manual for help specific to your needs.
Unrestrained children are 3 times more likely to be injured. Kids are always safest in the back seat!
facebook.com/childpassengersafety
twitter.com/childseatsafety
www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS