Travel Tips

Travel Tip: New Car Seat Laws

Baby in carseatHere’s a staggering statistic for all you with small kids: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3 out of 4 car seats are installed incorrectly. And that’s a major safety hazard for children..

Although the number of deaths has decreased since car-seat rules have become stricter, automobile crashes are still the leading cause of death for children 13 and younger. And unfortunately, car seat installation is a lot more complicated than you might think.

Not to mention the car seat laws keep changing. A new law just went into effect this year that safety seats using lower anchors and tethers—also known as the LATCH system—should no longer be used when the child and car seat weigh more than 65 pound combined.

That can be confusing, since manufacturers have been designing car seats to accommodate higher weights.

No matter what, it’s worth getting an expert to make sure the seat is installed properly: The Highway Administration has official car-seat inspection stations, and in some cities, the local police will also help you out.

Keep reading for more travel safety information.

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