Did you know most children between the ages of 6 and 8 still need to ride in booster seats, regardless of their weight? To protect your kids on the road, have safety seats inspected. Improperly placed safety belts can cause serious injury or even death. Child passenger safety checks are one of the smartest things you can do. These simple safety rules can protect you and your children when traveling America's highways.

Test your child-safety knowledge using the "Boosters Are For Big Kids" safety test developed by the SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. program.

• Boosters
  
  1. I know that newborns and children weighing less than 20 pounds should sit in a rear-facing child safety seat in the back of the vehicle.
     
  2. I know that children weighing 20 to 40 pounds, between the ages of 1 and 4, can sit in a forward-facing child safety seat.
     
  3. I know that children shorter than 4' 9" tall, weighing between 40 and 80 pounds, should use a booster seat and well-positioned safety belt.
     
  4. I know that older children weighing 80 pounds or more can sit in a regular car seat with belts.

At least four out of five children in safety seats are improperly restrained. Parents should have certified safety technicians check their child's seat to make sure it's safe. Parents can find a certified passenger safety inspector in their area by calling 1-888-DASH-2-DOT.

• Safety belt 5-step test
  
  1. Does your child sit all the way back against the car seat?
     
  2. Do your child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
     
  3. Does the belt cross your child's shoulder between the neck and arm?
     
  4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
     
  5. Can your child stay seated in the above manner for the entire ride?

For updated information about car safety rules, write to SafetyBeltSafe USA, P.O. Box 553, Altadena, CA 91003.

• Motor vehicle laws
  

  All children up to age 6 riding in any motor vehicle must ride properly secured in an appropriate child restraint system that meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
  

  • Convertible or toddler seats are also known as rear-facing child safety seats.
    
  • Booster seats are one step lower than a vehicle seat belt and one step up from toddler seats.
    
  • The lap belt should not ride up onto the soft abdominal area of your child.
    
  • The shoulder strap should not cross the neck and chin of your child.

The child safety seat raises your child to allow the car's seat belt to cross the strong hip bone of your child.