Buying a Car: Every Child Deserves a Safe Ride
You need to choose a car with safety in mind if you'll be driving children. Whether you are buying a new or pre-owned (used) car, here are some important points to consider:
Make sure your child safety seats fit in the car
Not all child safety seats fit in all vehicles and all seating positions. If a vehicle has bucket seats, it may interfere with proper safety seat installation. If a vehicle has rear bucket seats, try a child safety seat with a narrow base and top tether strap. The best way to tell if your safety seat works in a particular vehicle is to bring it along and try to properly install it before purchasing the car. Also check to see if the car has lap/shoulder belts in all back seating positions.
Not all child safety seats fit in all vehicles and all seating positions. If a vehicle has bucket seats, it may interfere with proper safety seat installation. If the vehicle has rear bucket seats, try a child safety seat with a narrow base and top tether strap. The best way to tell if your safety seat works in a particular vehicle is to bring your child's car seat along and try to properly install it before you buy the car. Another thing to look for are lap/shoulder belts in all back seating positions.
Car seats also will not fit properly in many pickup truck rear seats. Keep in mind that side-facing jump seats in trucks are not safe for children under any circumstances.
Some vehicles are safer than others
A pickup truck should not be considered a family vehicle. Children in the rear seat of compact extended-cab pickups are nearly five times as likely to be injured as children seated in the back seat of other vehicles according to a research conducted by CHOP.
Another study showed that children riding in large, as well as luxury passenger cars, were at the lowest risk of injury.
Look for LATCH
LATCH, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, was developed so that safety seats can be installed in the back seat more easily, without using seat belts.
View a short video about LATCH.
This video will open and play in a new window.
Keep in mind that, although LATCH was designed to make car seat installation easier, the old system of using the vehicle's seat belt to install a child safety seat is just as safe—if done correctly. Don't worry if you're buying a pre-owned car that doesn't come with LATCH. You can install a child safety seat just as tightly—and safely—with the car's seat belt system and tether anchor.
What about the airbags in a used car?
If you are buying a pre-owned car, you need to know if the airbags are safe. Whether buying a used car from a friend, relative, dealer or through an ad—ask questions. Was the vehicle ever in a crash? If yes, did the airbags deploy? What type of airbag was installed in the vehicle to replace the ones that deployed? Be sure that the car you buy has airbags that are in working condition.
The back is where it's at
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all kids under age 13 ride in the back of vehicles.
It's important to remember that the car you purchase should provide easy access to the back seat. Cars with only two doors can make it difficult to install a child safety seat because you need to get into the back seat yourself to install the seat securely. It can also be difficult to get your child in and out of the child safety seat when it's in a two-door vehicle. Also remember to choose a vehicle with enough rear seating positions for the number of children you'll be transporting.
Learn more about choosing a vehicle with child safety in mind