Police hosting Car Seat Check Stop

Lethbridge Police are inviting parents, guardians and anyone with young children, to attend a Car Seat Check Stop. 

Members of the Traffic Response Unit, trained in child car seat safety, will be available to check and ensure child occupant restraints are properly installed, answer questions and provide installation advice. 

The Car Seat Check Stop is scheduled for Wednesday, May 29 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the east parking lot of Toys R Us, 225 1 Avenue South.

In Alberta, all vehicle occupants are required to use a seat belt or child restraint system that is properly worn and adjusted. It’s the driver’s responsibility to ensure passengers under the age of 16 are properly secured in a child restrained system or seat belt. 

When used correctly, child restraint system are effective in reducing injuries and deaths in collisions. Before installing a car seat, it’s important to take time to read the manufacturer’s instruction manual and the car seat section of the vehicle owner’s manual. All children who weigh 18 kg (40 lbs) or less, must be secured in a properly installed child restraint. 

Rear-Facing Car Seat:

• A child is safest in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least two years of age OR reach the maximum weight or height limit for the rear-facing seat (as stated by the manufacturer)

Forward Facing Car Seat:

• Once a child has surpassed the maximum weight or height limit for their rear-facing car seat, they should be moved into a forward-facing car seat

Booster Seat

• Once a child surpasses the maximum weight or height limit for their forward-facing car seat, they should use a booster seat
• Booster seats are strongly recommended to help position the child so the shoulder-lap belt fits properly
• The child should be in the booster seat until they can fit the vehicles occupant restraint system (seat belt assembly) correctly

Seat Belt

• Your child is ready to use the vehicles seat belt assembly when the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly. This is typically when a child is a least 4’9’’ tall and between eight to 12 years of age
• The seat belt fits when:
  • The child can sit all the way back against the back of the vehicle seat
  • The knees of the child can bend comfortably over the edge of the vehicle seat
  • The lap belt portion fits snuggly across the top of the thighs and doesn’t ride up over the stomach
  • The shoulder belt goes across the chest bone and the middle of the shoulder, without crossing the neck
  • The child can sit in the correct position for the entire trip without slouching
• Children are safest and should remain in the backseat until they are at least 13 years old