Bancroft OPP remind parents and caregivers of the critical importance of properly securing children in car seats, particularly during colder months. Ontario’s child car seat laws and manufacturer recommendations are designed to maximize safety for young passengers, ensuring that they are properly protected in the event of a collision.
Never be in a hurry to move your child to the next stage of child car seat, let them outgrow the height or weight limit of their current car seat.
Always install your child car seat in the backseat, away from active air bags.
Ontario’s Child Car Seat Laws
1. Infant Car Seats (Rear-Facing):
- Use until the child weighs at least 9 kg (20 lbs).
- Safety Tip: Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. Rear-facing seats provide superior head, neck, and spine protection in the event of a collision.
2. Convertible or Forward-Facing Seats (with Harness):
- Use after outgrowing the rear-facing infant car seat.
- Required until the child weighs at least 18 kg (40 lbs).
- Safety Tip: When used forward facing, always use the tether strap.
3. Booster Seats:
- Use when the child weighs at least 18 kg (40 lbs) and until they are 8 years old, weigh 36 kg (80 lbs), or are 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall.
- Installation Tip: Ensure the lap belt fits low over the hips, and the shoulder belt crosses the chest and sits centered on the shoulder.
4. Seat Belt Only:
- Children can use a regular seat belt when they meet any of these criteria:
- 8 ye ars old
- 36 kg (80 lbs)
- 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall
- Position: Safest in the back seat until age 13 due to the risk posed by front-seat airbags.
Airbag Safety Reminder
- Rear-Facing Seats: Never place a rear-facing car seat in the front seat with an active airbag. The force of airbag deployment can be fatal.
- Forward-Facing Seats: If a child must sit in the front seat, deactivate the airbag if possible, or move the seat as far back as allowed by the vehicle’s manual. You must consult the manufacturers manual of both the vehicle and car seat before doing so.
Winter Coats and Car Seat Safety
- Winter Coats and Harness Safety:
- Avoid bulky clothing under the harness. Winter coats and puffy jackets, while keeping children warm, can inter fere with the proper tightness of the car seat harness. The bulk can create space between the child and the harness, which may cause injury in a collision.
- Proper Harness Fit: Ensure the harness is snug and the straps lie flat against the child’s chest. A simple test is to pinch the harness straps at the collar bone-if you can pinch the straps between your fingers, the harness is too loose. The chest buckle should be positioned at armpit level.
Alternative Solutions:
- Dress in thin layers under the harness, then place the coat or jacket over the car seat after the child is properly secured.
- Heavier Coats: If you need to use a heavier coat, take it off while traveling and have a blanket or use the heavy coat as a blanket for the trip.
Importance of Manufacturer Recommendations
Follow the Car Seat Manual: Each car seat model has specific installation instructions regarding seat angle, harness fit, and weight limits.
- Check the Vehicle Manual: Vehicles may have unique instructions for car seat installation, including where to place the seat and how to properly use anchors or seat belts.
- Proper Fit and Installation: Ensuring the car seat is installed correctly can reduce the risk of injury by up to 71%. Always refer to both manuals for detailed guidance.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Drivers are responsible for ensuring children under the are of 16 wear a seatbelt and children under the age of 8 are properly secured in the correct child car seat or booster seat. Failing to comply with Ontario’s child car seat regulations can result in a $240 fine and two demerit points.
