Booster seat safety week is September 21 – 27! The week is all about protecting our youngest passengers by promoting proper use of car seats and booster seats. Booster seats are a critical step in keeping kids safe by ensuring the seat belt fits correctly, significantly reducing the risk of serious injury in a crash. The Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) is urging parents not to move children out of booster seats too soon.
Booster seats are a vital step between a forward-facing car seat and an adult seat belt. They raise the child so the lap belt rests low across the hips and the shoulder belt crosses the collarbone—protecting the strongest bones in the body. Without this proper fit, a crash can cause serious injuries to the stomach, neck, or spine.
- Seat position: Child sits back against the vehicle seat. Do the knees bend naturally at the edge? If not, keep using a booster.
- Lap belt: Belt rests low on the hips—not the stomach.
- Shoulder belt: Lies across the collarbone and shoulder—not the neck or face.
- Stay in position: Child can remain seated properly for the entire ride without slouching or moving the belt.
If the answer is “no” to any step, the child should stay in a booster and retest in a month. Most kids need a booster until they are about 4’9” tall and between 8–12 years old.