Florida Drivers Handbook |
3.3. Protecting Children
Protecting Children
ALL CHILDREN 5 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER MUST USE
A RESTRAINT DEVICE WHEN RIDING IN A MOTOR VEHICLE.
The number one killer of young children in the United States
is traffic crashes in which children were not restrained
at all. Over 90 percent of the deaths and 80 percent of
the injuries in car crashes could be prevented by using
crash-tested child restraints.
Children should be secured in the rear seat. Never secure
a child in the front passenger side, especially if your
vehicle has an air bag.
The law requires every driver to properly secure children
five years of age or younger in child restraint devices
riding in a passenger car, van, or pick-up truck, regardless
of whether the vehicle is registered in this state. Infant
carriers or children’s car seats must be used for
children up to three years of age and younger. For children
aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated
child seat or a seat belt may be used. All infant carriers
and car seats must be crash-tested and approved by the U.S.
Government.
Children being carried or riding bicycles should wear properly
fitted bicycle helmets.
What is the Best Child Seat?
The one that fits your child.
The one that fits your vehicle.
The one that you will use correctly every time.
For more information on the best child seat, please visit:
http://www.fhp.state.fl.us/CPS
and obtain information on Occupant Protection & Child
Passenger Safety News.
Leaving Children Unattended or Unsupervised in Motor
Vehicles
Do not leave children unattended or unsupervised in a motor
vehicle and never leave a child unattended for any period
of time if the motor vehicle is running or if the health
of the child is in danger.
WARNING: WHEN IT’S HOT OUTSIDE, DO NOT LEAVE CHILDREN
UNATTENDED!
On a hot summer day, the interior of a car can get
dangerously hot. One study found that with the windows up
and the temperature outside at 94 degrees, the inside of
a car could be 122 degrees in just half an hour, or 132
degrees after an hour.
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