SPRINGFIELD – State troopers across Illinois are urging parents and caregivers to double-check their car seats, booster seats, and seat belts during Child Passenger Safety Week, September 21–27.
Choosing the proper restraint depends on your child’s age, height, and weight:
- Rear-facing seats: Essential for infants and toddlers.
- Forward-facing seats: Designed with a harness and tether for children who have outgrown rear-facing seats.
- Booster seats: Ensure a proper fit for lap-and-shoulder belts as children grow.
Illinois Car Seat Laws:
- Children under age 8 must ride in an approved child restraint system.
- Toddlers under age 2 must be secured in a rear-facing seat unless they weigh at least 40 pounds or stand at least 40 inches tall. State police recommend keeping children rear-facing for as long as permitted by seat weight and height limits.
Illinois State Trooper Melissa Albert says knowing what kind of restraint is right for your child is key to keeping them safe in the car.
“Whether that is a car seat, a booster seat, or a seat belt…proper restraints and seat belts save lives. They keep kids safe,” Albert says.
Illinois State Police say older kids should stay buckled up in the back seat until they’re at least 13.
“But, if they must ride up front, push the seat back as far as you can. The reason is really simple, their bodies are not really grown yet. If there is a crash, the restraints are not built to hold them in place like they would an adult,” Albert says.
ISP says keeping kids in the back seat is always the safest choice, regardless of age.
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians with the Illinois State Police are hosting free car seat safety checks throughout the state.
For more details on car seat safety or the Illinois Child Passenger Protection Act, visit the Illinois State Police Traffic Safety Website.
To find a certified technician in your community, check the Safe Kids National CPS Certification Website.
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