88 SEATS AND RESTRAINTSQ: What is the proper way to wearseat belts?A: An older child should wear alap-shoulder belt and get theadditional restraint a shoulder beltcan provide. The shoulder beltshould not cross the face or neck.The lap belt should fit snuglybelow the hips, just touching thetop of the thighs. This applies beltforce to the child's pelvic bones ina crash. It should never be wornover the abdomen, which couldcause severe or even fatal internalinjuries in a crash.Also see “Rear Seat Belt ComfortGuides” under Lap-Shoulder Belt 0 71.According to accident statistics,children are safer when properlyrestrained in a rear seating position.In a crash, children who are notbuckled up can strike other peoplewho are buckled up, or can be thrownout of the vehicle. Older children needto use seat belts properly.{ WarningNever allow more than one child towear the same seat belt. The seatbelt cannot properly spread theimpact forces. In a crash, they canbe crushed together and seriouslyinjured. A seat belt must be used byonly one person at a time.{ WarningNever allow a child to wear the seatbelt with the shoulder belt behindtheir back. A child can be seriouslyinjured by not wearing thelap-shoulder belt properly. In acrash, the child would not berestrained by the shoulder belt. Thechild could move too far forwardincreasing the chance of head andneck injury. The child might alsoslide under the lap belt. The beltforce would then be applied righton the abdomen. That could causeserious or fatal injuries. Theshoulder belt should go over theshoulder and across the chest.
