Anne Arundel County Department of Health - Child Passenger Safety

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Updated 7.11.2008

Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of injuries among young children in Anne Arundel County. Using your child's car safety seat correctly helps reduce motor vehicle injuries and death. Below are some quick check tips, a list of inspection sites in Anne Arundel County and links to other sites providing more information.

What should I know before purchasing a car safety seat?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides information that allows consumers to identify child safety seat restraints that affect ease of use. Before purchasing a child safety seat, click here to view NHTSA's information.

What should I know about installing my child's car safety seat?

Always refer to the car seat manufacturer's instructions for specific directions on properly using the car safety seat. Partners for Child Passenger Safety has a Web site featuring video clips, highlighting rear-facing seats, forward-facing seats, booster seats and LATCH. Click here to visit their Web site.

Check to make sure your child is using the right car safety seat. Make sure your child's safety seat is the correct seat for his/her height and weight and is positioned in the right direction. For example, at minimum, infants should ride rear-facing until at least one year of age and 20 pounds. However, it is safest for infants to ride rear-facing as long as possible up to the highest weight allowed by the manufacturer of the safety seat. Some seats can be used up to 30-35 pounds rear-facing. In general, most forward facing-seats with harnesses that are manufactured in the U.S. can be used until the child reaches 40 pounds. It is very important to read the car seat manual to determine if the seat fits your child.

Check to be sure the harness strap and harness clip are snug. The harness strap should be adjusted so that only one finger can be slipped underneath the strap at your child's chest. The harness clip should be fastened at armpit level.

Move your child to a booster seat when he/she outgrows the toddler seat. Most forward-facing or toddler seats with harnesses can be used until your child reaches 40 pounds or when his/her shoulder is above the top harness strap slot. At that time it is recommended that your child move to a booster seat and utilize the vehicle's lap and shoulder belt. The booster seat will help your child wear the lap and shoulder belt correctly and sit more comfortably. Most booster seats can be used until your child reaches 60-80 pounds or until the lap/shoulder belt alone fits your child correctly.

The safest place for your child's safety seat is the back seat. Frontal collisions are the most common type of car crash and severe injuries can occur in children riding in the front seat. In addition, if your vehicle has a passenger air bag, all children 12 years and under should ride in the back to prevent injuries from the force of a deploying air bag.

Where can I get my child's car safety seat inspected?
The following agencies may have personnel trained to check your child's car safety seat. You must call for an appointment.

Anne Arundel Community College, Department of Public Safety - by appointment only

101 College Parkway, Arnold, 410-777-2096

Maryland State Police - by appointment only

Barrack P, Glen Burnie, 410-761-5130

Fitzgerald Annapolis Auto Mall - by appointment only

34 Hudson Street, Annapolis, 410-224-3480

Antwerpen Volkswagon - by appointment only

8065 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, 410-760-6300

You can also call the Maryland Kids in Safety Seats (KISS) helpline for locations at 1-800-370-SEAT.

What is Maryland's Child Passenger Safety Law?
As of June 30, 2008, Maryland's Child Passenger Safety law requires children under eight years old be in a car safety seat unless they are taller than 4 feet 9 inches or weigh more than 65 pounds. However, these are minimal standards and children should remain in their child safety seat until they can fit the lap and shoulder belt correctly. Click here for 5-step test to see if your child is ready for a lap and shoulder belt without a booster seat.

The following links provide more information:

For more information on child safety seats or other injury prevention programs in Anne Arundel County, call 410-222-4223 or send an e-mail to Wendy Mahan.