Although no safety device is 100 percent effective all of the time, a child safety seat can make a life-saving difference. When correctly used, child safety seats are 71 percent effective in preventing fatalities. Texas law requires children aged 2 and under be properly restrained in a safety seat that meets federal safety standards. Children between 2 and 4 must be in a child safety seat or secured by a seat belt. Children under 12 are prohibited from riding in the open area of pickup trucks at speeds in excess of 35 mph on public roads.
Older children wear vehicle safety belts.
Lap belts should be low and snug across a child's hips. The shoulder belt must not cross the face or the neck, Kingston explains. Drivers can take several additional steps to help protect child passengers. Pre-crash braking may throw an unrestrained child against the dashboard at or near the passenger air bag location. So, the safest place for passengers, especially those aged 12 and under, is in the back seat, Kingston says.