Child RestraintsOlder ChildrenOlder children who have outgrown booster seatsshould wear the vehicle’s safety belts.Q: What is the proper way to wear safetybelts?A: An older child should wear a lap-shoulder beltand get the additional restraint a shoulder beltcan provide. The shoulder belt should notcross the face or neck. The lap belt should fitsnugly below the hips, just touching thetop of the thighs. It should never be worn overthe abdomen, which could cause severe oreven fatal internal injuries in a crash.Accident statistics show that children are safer ifthey are restrained in the rear seat.In a crash, children who are not buckled up canstrike other people who are buckled up, or can bethrown out of the vehicle. Older children needto use safety belts properly.42
