Child Car Seats & Safety Belt Use

By David Tapalian March 9, 2015

Properly restraining a child or infant can mean the difference between life and death in a car accident. RI state law has different child restraint recommendations based on a child’s age, height and weight. Visit RI General Laws for complete child safety belt and restraint use requirements.

Although a child between the ages of 8 and 18 may sit in the front of a car in RI, it is recommended that children under 12 sit in the rear seat of a vehicle. Children under the age of 8 who weigh less than 80 pounds and is less than 57 inches tall must sit in the rear in an approved child seat. Any passenger over the age of 13 must use a seat belt. For more information on car seats and boosters, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Parents Central website.

It is highly recommended you follow these guidelines when deciding where to have your child sit in a car or when to transition them out of a child restraint system. A child’s body reacts differently than an adult’s to the force and impact experienced in a car accident and a child restraint system can help reduce or avoid serious injury or death in an accident. Car accidents are going to happen. It’s our job as parents and caregivers to make sure we protect our children as best we can.