What you Need to Know About Car Seats – No Car Seat Stage
As your child gets older and continues to grow at a rapid pace, it should be no surprise that they will quickly outgrow their booster seat. When this happens, it is time for them to finally ride in the car with the seat belt alone, granted they meet the criteria that is outlined by the laws in the province.
When can Children Ride Using a Seatbelt Alone?
Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act allows a child to use a seat belt alone in the following situation:
- They outgrow the booster seat
- They are 8 years old or older
- They are more than 80lbs
- They are taller than 4 foot 9 inches
According to the MTO website, “Once a child can sit against the back of the vehicle seat with their legs bent comfortably over the edge, and they can maintain this position for the entire trip, they are ready to move from the booster seat”
So, this doesn’t mean that the second your child exceeds 80 lbs or turns 8 years old that it’s time to remove the booster seat. Every situation is different and you need to make sure that your child is ready to travel in the car without a booster seat, safely and comfortably.
4 Tips to Keep your Children Safe
Here are some tips to help keep your children safe when they first start out using a seat belt only:
- Set the example – Always wear your seat belt
- Reinforce the importance of wearing a seat belt
- All children under the age of 12 should ride in the back seat
- Buckle up children in the middle seat of the back seat – it is the safest spot in the car
Stay tuned for our next post that outlines what you can do with your car seat and booster seat once you no longer need it.
More Information
To learn more about properly installing your booster seat or car seat, please visit the Ministry of Transportation websites page dedicated to Tips for Installing Child Car Seats