Police in Alberta will focus on child safety seat education in the month of November 2022. (Image: Melpomenem | Dreamstime.com)

By David Opinko

Police focusing on child safety seat education in November

Nov 1, 2022 | 6:00 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) is among the law enforcement agencies in Alberta aiming to bring awareness to child safety seats in the month of November 2022.

A media release from LPS states that it is part of a province-wide Selective Traffic Enforcement Program.

Members of the Lethbridge Police Traffic Response Unit will be conducting random check stops in November, focusing on child safety seats and seat belts.

“Used correctly, child safety seats are effective in reducing injury and deaths in motor vehicle collisions,” says LPS.

The law requires all occupants of a motor vehicle in Alberta to use a seat belt or child safety seat and ensure it is properly worn and adjusted.

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Children who weigh 18 kilograms (40 pounds) or less must be in a properly-installed child restraint.

It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that passengers under the age of 16 are properly secured. The fine for not using a child safety seat or seat belt is $162.

LPS provided the following tips to ensure children remain safely secured in the vehicle.

• Rear-Facing Car Seat
  • A child is safest in a rear-facing car seat until he/she is at least two years of age OR reaches the maximum weight or height limit for the rear-facing seat (as stated by the manufacturer).
• Forward-Facing Car Seat
  • Once a child is at least two years of age OR has reached the maximum weight or height limit for their rear-facing car seat, they should be in a forward-facing car seat
  • Use the forward-facing car seat until the child weighs more than 18 kilograms (40 pounds).
• Booster Seat
  • Once a child weighs more than 18 kilograms (40 pounds) they should use a booster seat
  • Booster seats are not required by law in Alberta, but they are strongly recommended to help position the child so the should-lap belt fits properly
  • The child should be in the booster seat until they reach the manufacturer’s maximum height or weight limit.
• Seat Belt
  • Your child is ready to use a seat belt when the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly. This is typically when a child is a least four-foot-nine and between eight and 12 years of age
  • The seat belt fits when:
    • The child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat when they are sitting against the back seat
    • The shoulder belt crosses the chest and stays between the child’s neck and shoulder (not between the chin and neck)
    • The lap belt crosses the child’s hips (not the stomach)
  • Children are safest and should remain in the backseat until they are at least 13 years old.

Free child safety seat information sessions are provided by St. Johns Ambulance. The sessions are designed to provide parents and caregivers with information on how to correctly install a child safety seat and to transport children safely in the vehicle.

More information on child safety seats is available on the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services websites.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now