1-45Where to Put the RestraintAccident statistics show that children are safer if theyare restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.General Motors, therefore, recommends that childrestraints be secured in the rear seat including an infantriding in a rear- facing infant seat, a child riding in aforward- facing child seat and an older child riding in abooster seat. Never put a rear- facing child restraint inthe front passenger seat. Here’s why:CAUTION:A child in a rear- facing child restraint can beseriously injured or killed if the right frontpassenger’s air bag inflates. This is because theback of the rear- facing child restraint would bevery close to the inflating air bag. Always securea rear- facing child restraint in a rear seat.You may secure a forward- facing child restraintin the right front seat, but before you do, alwaysmove the front passenger seat as far back as itwill go. It’s better to secure the child restraint ina rear seat.Wherever you install it, be sure to secure the childrestraint properly.Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint canmove around in a collision or sudden stop and injurepeople in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure anychild restraint in your vehicle -- even when no childis in it.Top StrapSome child restraints have a top strap, or “top tether.”It can help restrain the child restraint during a collision.For it to work, a top strap must be properly anchored tothe vehicle.If the child restraint does not have a top strap, onecan be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints.Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not akit is available.
