Where should children under 4 years old be secured in a vehicle?

Children under 4 years old should always be secured in an appropriate child safety seat in the back seat of the vehicle. This guideline is based on safety regulations and recommendations designed to protect young children during a crash.

The back seat provides a safer environment for young children, as it is further from the front of the vehicle where most collisions occur. Moreover, using a child safety seat that is appropriate for the child's weight and height ensures that they are properly protected. These safety seats are specifically designed to cushion and restrain the child’s body in case of a sudden stop or an accident, significantly reducing the risk of injury.

Using the front passenger seat, placing them in a booster seat in the middle seat, or securing them with just a seatbelt are not recommended for this age group. The front seat is less safe for young children because of the proximity to airbags that could deploy during a crash. Booster seats are typically recommended for older children who have outgrown their child safety seats but are still too small for regular seat belts. Lastly, using only a seatbelt is inadequate for children under 4, as they do not have the size or physical development necessary to be protected safely by a seatbelt alone.