Older Children: Seat Belts | Injury and Violence Prevention Program | UC Davis Health

• Seat belts are designed to fit adults, not children.
• A lap belt sitting across the stomach can cause severe damage to the child's internal organs and spine during a crash.
• If the shoulder belt is not sitting snugly across the mid-chest and resting on the shoulder during a crash, serious injuries to the brain, face, and spine can occur.
• All children under 13 years old should ride in the back seat.

Older children are ready to move from their booster seats to a regular seat belt when they can pass the “5 Step Safety Belt Test”.

5 Step Safety Belt Test

A child must meet all of the following conditions for the entire trip:

1. Sits all the way back against the seat.
2. Knees bend over the edge of the vehicle seat.
3. The shoulder belt crosses the center of the chest and shoulder, not the neck.
4. The lap belt is as low as possible, touching the thighs.
5. Can maintain this position for the entire trip