How To Follow British Columbian Car Seat Laws
If your child is involved in a car accident in British Columbia, you may be able to receive compensation through the ICBC. However, since an accident can be traumatic and can also put your child at serious risk, you will need to be proactive in protecting your child by always using a car seat that is approved by Canadian regulations and by also taking other safety measures to protect your child.
Getting the Right Car Seat
When purchasing a car seat for your child, make sure that the car seat was made in Canada. If the car seat is not made in Canada, it will not necessarily be in compliance with Canadian safety regulations. Child car seats must be designed in a way that minimizes the risk to the child in the event of a car accident. The regulations apply to the restraint systems and booster cushions. These child car seats need to be labeled with the Canadian National Safety mark so that consumers know that they are in compliance with Canadian regulations.
Car Seats Don't Last Forever
Canadian car seats are not considered to be safe forever. Instead, they have a useful life date after which they should be replaced with newer car seats. Simply by being exposed to sunlight, the plastic that makes up the car seat can weaken over time. The labels on the car seat can deteriorate and can eventually become difficult to read, which can be problematic if you forget how to properly use the seat.
Age Requirements
Under British Columbian law, all children under the age of 16 must be restrained by a seat belt or a car seat. Children who weigh less than 40 pounds should be using a forward-facing child car seat that has harness straps. If the child weighs more than 40 pounds, he or she can use a booster seat and a lap/shoulder seat belt. Booster seats should not be used if the car only has a lap belt available because a booster seat with a lap belt is considered more dangerous than a lap belt by itself.
Your child may not like being in the car seat or wearing a seat belt and may try to take it off. If this happens, you should pull over to the side of the road in the safest manner possible. Then, you need to make sure that your child is properly restrained before you continue driving. To learn more, visit Yearwood & Company.