Booster vs. Seat Belt Alone

A booster positions the adult seat belt properly on a child’s body, because a poorly positioned seat belt is a major source of injury to spinal cord & abdominal organs. When a child has outgrown their booster seat and meets all of the following 5 criteria (usually about 10-12 years old and not before age 8), they are ready for an adult seat belt alone.

  1.  Child sits comfortably, all the way back in the vehicle seat, with their knees bent at the edge of the vehicle seat.
  2.  Shoulder belt fits evenly and flush across the torso, not cutting into the neck or face.
  3.  Lap belt is low on the hips, touching the tops of the thighs (not on the abdomen).
  4.  Feet are on the floor.
  5.  Child can remain seated comfortably this way for the entire ride.

All children must ride in the back seat of the vehicle until age 13.