The Alberta Traffic Safety Act requires that all children under the age of six years and weighing less than 18 kilograms (40 pounds) are secured in the appropriate child restraint.
Every day, thousands of vehicles take to the road transporting children of all ages, to and from activities, vacations, school and home. However, not all of these children are safely secured in those vehicles.
Every month, Alberta Health Services volunteers team up with the Calgary Police Service and the Calgary Fire Department to conduct car seat/restraint check stops. Violations found during check stops are subject to a $115 fine per infraction - and it is not uncommon for someone to have multiple infractions.
It is encouraging to find many children who are buckled correctly into a securely fastened child restraint, but there are still a number of children who aren’t.
Improvements made over the years to child restraints and how they are secured into a vehicle have made them much safer and easier to use, yet we still observe mistakes such as no tether strap and Universal Anchorage System that are too loose.
Tether straps, the strap attached to the back of a forward-facing child restraint near the top of the seat, are mandatory by law in Alberta and are necessary to ensure the child restraint does not move sideways and limits forward movement during the impact of a collision. All forward-facing car restraints come with the tether strap attached and instructions to follow for proper use. This strap needs to be tight to keep the seat snug to the vehicle.
All vehicles manufactured after September 2002 are equipped with either a UAS (Universal Anchorage System) or a seat belt. The UAS is the name of the strap and anchors that are used to secure rear-facing and forward-facing restraints instead of using the seat belt. Either the UAS system or the seat belt must be used to attach the car seat to the vehicle. The UAS or the vehicle’s seat belt are equally as safe, but you may find that one will work better in certain vehicles. Reading your vehicle owner’s manual will help you determine the closest and most secure anchor for the child restraint.
Paying attention to the internal harness in the child restraint is also very important. The internal harness is straps that are attached inside the child restraint that hold the child in securely. When the straps are too loose, the child is able to move around easily within the child restraint. By pulling the end of the strap, usually found at the front bottom part of the child restraint, you can cinch the harness snug. This must be done each and every time the child is put into the restraint. Dress children in layers and be aware of bulky coats, as you want to secure the child with the harness - not the clothing.
In addition to a snug internal harness, it’s also important that the chest clip is chest level and in line with the child’s armpits. This will hold the internal harness straps securely on the child’s shoulders and helps keep the child secure in the harness of the car seat.
For now, remember to read both the child restraint and vehicle owner’s manuals as well as remembering your A, B, C’s. It’s just that easy!
A – Appropriate restraint for the child
B – Buckle in the child restraint correctly using either the UAS or a seat belt and a tether strap for a forward-facing restraint
C – Chest clip and internal harness securely fastened, snug and at the proper level
Safe travels!
Denise is a Every Ride A Safe Ride Instructor with Alberta Health Services. To learn more about car seat safety, sign up for a Free Every Ride a Safe Ride class, by contacting 403-955-LINK (5465).
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