Making Safe Simple: On the Way

In 2020, 46% of car seats were installed incorrectly, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Correctly and safely securing children in vehicles can greatly reduce injury. Caregivers should always serve as role models and rule-setters when it comes to vehicle safety restraints and motor vehicle safety.

Infants and young toddlers (rear-facing car seats)

Children should remain in a rear-facing child safety seat as long as possible, or until they exceed the height or weight limit specified by the child restraint manufacturer. Minnesota state law requires children to remain rear facing until at least age 2, and until they outgrow the height or weight limits of their car seat.

• Read the car seat and vehicle owners’ manuals to ensure the seat is installed properly.
• Position the harness straps so they are at or below the child’s shoulders.
• Make sure the harness straps are buckled, properly positioned, and tight against the hips and shoulders.
• Make sure the chest clip is at armpit level.
• If installed properly, the car seat should not move more than 1 inch in any direction when testing at the belt path.
• Never put a rear-facing car seat in front of an active airbag.
• Children are always safest in the back seat.

Preschoolers and young school children (forward-facing car seats)

Five-point restraints provide more protection to children in motor vehicle accidents because they spread the crash forces over a larger area of their body. Many car seats have five-point restraints with high weight limits. Don’t be in a rush to move a child from a forward-facing child restraint into a booster seat. Minnesota state law requires children to be in a forward-facing harnessed seat until they exceed the height or weight limit.

• Forward-facing car seats should be used once a child has reached the maximum weight or height limit of a rear-facing seat.
• Use a forward-facing car seat with a harness until the child reaches the height or weight limits specified by the seat’s manufacturer before transitioning into a booster seat.
• Read the car seat and vehicle owners’ manuals to ensure the seat is installed properly.
• Position harness straps so they are at or above the child’s shoulders.
• Some convertible seats require the use of top slots when the seat is forward-facing; be sure to read the car seat manual carefully.
• Make sure the harness straps are buckled, properly positioned, and tight against the child’s bones.
• Make sure the chest clip is at armpit level.
• If installed properly, the car seat should not move more than 1 inch in any direction when pulling at the belt path.

School age children (booster seats and beyond)

Minnesota state law requires children to be in a booster seat until they are at least age 9 and can properly fit in a vehicle seat belt.

Use this five-step test to determine seat belt fit:

1. Kids and teens should be able to sit in the vehicle seat with their back all the way against the back of the seat.
2. Their knees should bend at the edge of the seat.
3. The lap belt should fit low and tight across the tops of their thighs, not on their stomach.
4. The shoulder belt should fit on the strong bone between the neck and shoulder.
5. They should be able to remain seated this way for the duration of the entire ride.

Minnesota law also requires children to remain in the back seat until at least age 13, if possible. This is due to the significant risk of injury air bags could cause to a young body.

ATV Safety

With proper training, safety equipment, and an appropriately-sized ATV, children and teens can protect themselves from serious injury while riding ATVs. Download the ATV Safety PDF.

ATV injury facts

• ATV injuries commonly occur from rollover crashes, collisions with stationary objects and falling off the ATV.
• The majority of fatalities result from injuries to the head and neck.
• Non-fatal injuries commonly include broken bones and head injuries.
• ATVs are designed for off-road use. Paved roads can seriously hamper the machine’s handling ability, causing the driver to easily lose control.

Keys to ATV safety

• Always wear a helmet with eye protection and other protective clothing, including long-sleeve shirts, long pants, ankle boots and gloves.
• Choose the ATV that is the right size for the operator’s age.
• Always follow the ATV manufacturer’s minimum age requirements warning labels.

ATV injury risk reduction

• Be aware of and enforce manufacturer’s warning labels including minimum age requirements and single rider.
• Never allow anyone under 16 years old to operate a full size ATV.
• Always supervise children under 16 years old on ATVs.
• Operate ATVs on only trails and at an appropriate speed.
• Be a good example — always demonstrate safe riding behavior and always wear proper protective equipment and clothing.

Safety courses

Every rider should take a hands-on safety course. Find a safety course near you:

• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
• ATV Safety Institute