Children in car ?? (Asheville, Statesville: inspector, law, legal)

[Savingtime]

Help if any one as a police/state trooper could help Mext month I will have 4 children 2( 5yr olds) and two (3 yr old.) I can put 3 car seat (two car seat one booster in my Large car.(back seat) My oldest grand son Is 51/2 and weight 60 lb and My question can he set in the front , with the seat all the way back I have side air bag ( should I have him in a booster or just in the lap/shoulder belt?) The way I read the state laws he can > I must drive with them for a few days so Please no rude remarks >
Again I drive a nice large sixe car and just wanted to know some fact or who I could call and speak to a person I have read all the stuff online <
Thanks for any postive advice!

[Asheville Native]

First thank you for trying to do the best thing, there was a very tragic accident near hear last week-end, where 5 UNBELTED children were riding in the back seat, 3 of them are dead, in addition to two adults, and no one was wearing a seat belt, even though one driver was due in court this week for a seat belt violation.

The 5 1/2 year old should be in a booster seat. The correct name for these seats is a "belt positioning seat" because it raises the child up so that the lapbelt goes across the child's hips, and not their abdomen (where it can cause internal injuries), and second that the shoulder strap crosses mid chest, and goes across their shoulder between the neck and the shoulder.

As a firefighter, I am a formally nationally certified Child Safety Seat Inspector. Talking with law enforcement that take the same course and tests, most are satisfied when the adult does the best they can with the number of children and the vehicle they have. The intolerance by all is the ones that have a flagrant disregard for the safety of children. Safe trip

[Debb J]

Originally Posted by Savingtime

I must drive with them for a few days so Please no rude remarks

Can't imagine why anyone would make rude remarks to you. I think you're wonderful for coming here to find *factual* information to keep these children safe.

[LRoyal10900]

Any child under 8 years or 80 pounds must be in a booster seat, so the 5.5 yo has to be in one.

[mm_mary73]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

First thank you for trying to do the best thing, there was a very tragic accident near hear last week-end, where 5 UNBELTED children were riding in the back seat, 3 of them are dead, in addition to two adults, and no one was wearing a seat belt, even though one driver was due in court this week for a seat belt violation.

The 5 1/2 year old should be in a booster seat. The correct name for these seats is a "belt positioning seat" because it raises the child up so that the lapbelt goes across the child's hips, and not their abdomen (where it can cause internal injuries), and second that the shoulder strap crosses mid chest, and goes across their shoulder between the neck and the shoulder.

As a firefighter, I am a formally nationally certified Child Safety Seat Inspector. Talking with law enforcement that take the same course and tests, most are satisfied when the adult does the best they can with the number of children and the vehicle they have. The intolerance by all is the ones that have a flagrant disregard for the safety of children. Safe trip

Off-topic: Was that one of the two horrific crashes just outside of Asheville last Friday (4/17) afternoon??? I was on my way back to Statesville from Knoxville on eastbound 40. I usually stop, but EMS/Fire already giving aid.

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by mm_mary73

Off-topic: Was that one of the two horrific crashes just outside of Asheville last Friday (4/17) afternoon??? I was on my way back to Statesville from Knoxville on eastbound 40. I usually stop, but EMS/Fire already giving aid.

SUV from out of state towing a 30' trailer, which started to fishtail. Resulted in a roll over onto the guard rail killing a teenage boy in the SUV. The other wreck was in the backup from this one where a person was completely inattentive to their driving, and rear ended stopped traffic at 55 - 60 without braking.

People, put the damn cell phone down, put the seat belt on and drive, not just occupy the drivers seat.

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by LRoyal10900

Any child under 8 years or 80 pounds must be in a booster seat, so the 5.5 yo has to be in one.

Obviously the OP is trying to do their very best given the vehicle they have and the trips they must make.

Just quoting law is really no way to encourage anyone to follow it, "this is the law' obey or ........." a law is much more acceptable if the reasons behind it are explained, which has been done. Nor is quoting only one part of the law helpful

Instances where it is legal, though not necessarily recommended, for a child to be in the front seat include:

* If the vehicle has no front passenger air bag.
* If the vehicle has a front passenger air bag that is turned off with an on/off switch.
* If the vehicle has no rear seat. Note however, it is legal to place a child in the front seat if the vehicle has no rear seat, but infants and children in rear facing child safety seats should NEVER ride in the front seat of a vehicle with an active passenger side air bag. The child will be seriously injured or killed if there is a crash and the air bag deploys.
* If the child is 5 years of age or older.
* If the child weighs 40 pounds or more.

buckleupnc.org

[mm_mary73]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

SUV from out of state towing a 30' trailer, which started to fishtail. Resulted in a roll over onto the guard rail killing a teenage boy in the SUV. The other wreck was in the backup from this one where a person was completely inattentive to their driving, and rear ended stopped traffic at 55 - 60 without braking.

People, put the damn cell phone down, put the seat belt on and drive, not just occupy the drivers seat.

That's what I thought The car in the 2nd accident was nothing but a burned-out frame.