Car Seat Safety Quiz

1. Which of the following is the least important factor in your decision to buy a used car seat?
1. The instructions are not included with the car seat.
2. The seat has been involved in a crash.
3. The seat is over 10 years old.
4. All of the above factors are equally important.

Answer: d) All of the above factors are equally important.

2. What are the two required steps when installing a rear-facing infant seat?
1. Installing the seat correctly in the car AND cleaning up the vehicle seat.
2. Harnessing the child correctly in the car seat AND installing the car seat correctly in the vehicle.
3. Installing a locking clip on the belt AND installing the seat correctly in the car.
4. None of the above.

Answer: b) Harnessing the child correctly in the car seat AND installing the car seat correctly in the car.

3. At what angle should a rear-facing infant seat be positioned when in a car?
1. 90º
2. 45º
3. 30º
4. The angle is not important.

Answer: b) 45º

4. What portion of the base of the car seat should touch the vehicle seat when installed in the car?
1. 75%
2. 90%
3. 30%
4. 80%

Answer: d) 80% of the base of the car seat should touch the vehicle seat.

5. What are the two criteria to put a child in a forward-facing seat?
1. The child is over 9.5 kg (20lbs) AND is able to pull himself to a standing position unassisted.
2. The child is over 70 cm (28 inches) AND cries all the time.
3. The child can sit on his/her own AND is over 70 cm (28 inches).
4. None of the above.

Answer: a) It is very important to make sure that the two criteria are respected in order to ensure the safety of the baby. He/she has to weigh over 9.5 kg (20lb) AND be developmentally ready (i.e.t the child can pull him/herself to a standing position unassisted). This indicates that the neck muscles are strong enough to be in a forward-facing position in a car seat.

6. What is the most important reason not to have a twisted harness?
1. It doesn’t look good.
2. It is uncomfortable for the child.
3. The force of the crash will be concentrated in the area where the harness is twisted.
4. None of the above.

Answer: c) In case of a crash the injuries will be concentrated around the harness . The harness should always lie flat on the child’s body. That way the G-force of the crash will be distributed all along the harness instead of being concentrated in one specific area.

7. Where should the chest clip be positioned?
1. At armpit level.
2. At umbilical level.
3. At chin level.
4. Any one of the above.

Answer: a) The chest clip should be positioned at the armpit level. It helps keep the shoulder harness on the shoulders. If the chest clip is kept too low, the child will likely be ejected from his seat in the case of a crash.

8. Why is an infant seat installed in the rear-facing position?
1. This way, the child doesn’t distract the parents.
2. The child’s neck muscles are not strong enough to protect the neck and back during a crash.
3. Because the car seat fits better in the car.
4. All of the above.

Answer: b) The child’s neck muscles are not strong enough to protect the neck and back during a crash.

9. You are allowed to use a piece of wood under a rear-facing infant seat to adjust the 45º angles.

Answer: False. You can only put soft materials under a rear-facing car seat to adjust the angle, such as blankets, towels, foam or pool noodles. Anything hard that is put under a car seat will get dislodged in the case of a crash and become a projectile in the vehicle, which can seriously injure one of the passengers.

10. The shoulder harness for a forward-facing car seat has to be at or slightly below shoulder level.

True or false

Answer: False. The shoulder harness has to be at or slightly above shoulder level.

11. A forward-facing child seat must be tethered.

True or false

Answer: True. All forward-facing car seats must be tethered as indicated in the manufacture’s instructions.

12. A car seat bought in the U.S. can be used in Canada.

True or false

Answer: False. Canadian Safety Standards are higher than American standards. It is illegal in Canada to use a car seat bought in the U.S.

13. A tether bolt can be installed anywhere on the floor of a vehicle.

True or false

Answer: False. Tether anchorage locations will vary from one model of vehicle to another. In most cases, the vehicle owner’s manual will indicate the location of the pre-drilled holes of factory ready tether hardware. It is imperative to use locations specified by the vehicle manufacturer.

14. Some types of forward-facing seats are safer than others.

True or false

Answer: False. All seats sold new in the stores are equally safe.

15. How much does a child have to weigh to start using a booster seat?
1. 14 kg (30 lbs.)
2. 18 kg (40 lbs.)
3. 11 kg (25 lbs.)
4. Weight is not a factor.

Answer: b) 18 kg (40 lbs.)

16. What is the most important reason to use a booster seat?
1. It positions the shoulder belt over the shoulder and across the chest.
2. The vehicle lap belt will fit low and snug across the hips.
3. It is the law to be in a booster seat after 18 kg (40 lbs).
4. All of the above.

Answer: d) All of the above.

17. An empty booster seat should always be buckled when not being used in a car because:
1. It looks better.
2. It is the law.
3. It could hurt passengers during a crash.
4. None of the above.

Answer: c) It could hurt passengers during a crash, as it could become a projectile.

18. If a child is too tall for his forward-facing child seat but is not 18 kg (40 lbs.) yet, he is allowed to use a booster seat.

True or false.

Answer: False. The child should be moved to a child/booster seat as these seats are specifically made for tall children. It is the law in Ontario for all children up to 18 kg (40 lbs.) to be in a child car seat.

19. It is safe to put the shoulder belt behind the child or under the arm.

True or false

Answer: False. Never tuck the belt under the child or under the arm. Doing so could result in serious injury or death.

20. It is the law in Ontario to be in a booster seat from 18 to 36 kg (40 to 80 lbs.).

True or false

Answer: True. In Ontario, legislation has now been changed and a child must be restrained in a booster seat if all of the following conditions are met: the child is under eight years of age, weighs between 18 to 36 kg (40 to 80 lbs.) and has a standing height of less than 145 cm (4’9”).