Keep Me in a Safe Seat: guidelines for child passenger safety

              Printed by authority of the State of Illinois. June 2006 — DSD A 153.1
Jesse White
Secretary of State
Guidelines for
Child Passenger Safety
NEVER place a rear-facing safety seat in
the front passenger seat if the vehicle is
equipped with a passenger airbag that
has not been shut off with a switch.
When installing a child safety seat, secure
the seat tightly with the vehicle safety belt
or by the LATCH system. Always read the
vehicle owner’s manual.
Be sure your child is in the appropriate
seat for the child’s size. Follow the
manufacturer’s instructions for height and
weight guidelines.
All child safety seats must meet the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
213, which governs performance
standards for child safety devices. Make
sure the safety seat is clearly marked
“Meets FMVSS 213.”
To be notified of any recalls, register a
child safety seat by sending the
registration card to the manufacturer.
NEVER hold a child on your lap while the
vehicle is moving. In a collision, the child
is not protected from injury.
A pre-owned child safety seat should not
be used unless you are certain it has never
been involved in a crash, has all the
pieces (including instructions), and has
been checked for recalls.
Do not use a child safety seat that is more
than six years old or one that has been
involved in a crash.
Always use your safety belt. Parents who
buckle up usually buckle up their children.
Your child deserves the very best protection
while riding in your vehicle. The best child
safety seat is one that fits the child and the
vehicle, and is used correctly every time.
Remember that children and airbags do not
mix — the safest place for young passengers
is in the back seat. This brochure provides
general guidelines for securing your child in a
safety seat.
My office provides child safety seat
inspections at several Driver Services facilities
throughout the state. I encourage you to visit
one of these fitting stations to ensure that
your child's seat is properly installed and
meets federal guidelines for your child's
height and weight. For more information or to
schedule a child safety seat inspection,
please call 866-247-0213.
Children are our most
precious cargo. Keep them
in a safe seat.
Jesse White
Secretary of State
CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY
BEGINS WITH YOU!
CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY TIPS