How to Ensure Car Seat Safety

At McCluskey Automotive, we strive to be much more than the premier used car dealership in the Cincinnati area. We want to be a full-service dealership, offering our customers the information and service they need to get a great car and stay safe behind the wheel.

When you have a family, a key component of driving safety is using the right car seat and installing it properly. To help our customers, we’ve put together some key information about how to ensure car seat safety:

Follow Car Seat Laws

In Ohio, all children who are under 8 years old or 4 feet, 9 inches tall must ride in an appropriate car seat or booster seat. Infants must ride in a rear-facing car seat until they weigh at least 40 pounds. After that, children can ride in a booster seat until they are 8 years old.

Those who violate these guidelines can be charged with a misdemeanor and charged a $25 fine. In addition, they put their children at risk in the event of an accident.

Buy a New Car Seat

Car seats can be expensive. You may try to save a few bucks by purchasing a car seat second hand at a thrift store or yard sale. However, this puts your children at risk.

When you buy a used car, you have no way of knowing if it has been in an accident, which can make it less effective for future protection. The car seat may have also been recalled, which you would not know unless you do plenty of research before shopping.

Car seats also expire. When you buy a used seat, there is a good possibility that it will already be expired. Buying a new seat ensures that it is of the highest quality and will offer you the best protection.

Install the Seat Properly

Even if you own the best car seat, it will not be effective if you don’t install it properly. You can take your car and the seat to your local police department or fire department for a demonstration on proper installation. You can also attend a car seat safety clinic in your community.

At McCluskey, we consider ourselves to be more than just a used car dealership. We consider our customers our family, and we want to provide the information our family needs to stay safe. Make sure you keep your family safe, as well, by following these simple rules for car seat safety.