Safety Restraints For Children - Ford 1996 Contour Manual

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Safety Restraints for Children

In the U.S. and Canada, you are required by law to use safety
restraints for children. If small children ride in your vehicle —
this generally includes children who are four years old or
younger and who weigh 40 pounds (18 kg) or less — you must
put them in safety seats that are made specially for children.
Safety belts alone do not provide maximum protection for these
children. Check your local and state laws for specific
requirements.
Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap
while the vehicle is moving. The passenger cannot
protect the child from injury in a collision.
Passengers should not be allowed to ride in the cargo
area. Persons not riding in a seat with a fastened seat
belt are much more likely to suffer serious injury in a
collision. Cargo should always be secured to prevent it
from shifting and causing damage to the vehicle or harm
to passengers.
When possible, put children in the rear seat of your vehicle.
Accident statistics suggest that children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating
positions.
Carefully follow all of the manufacturer's instructions
included with the safety seat you put in your vehicle. If
you do not install and use the safety seat properly, the
child may be injured in a sudden stop or collision.
Safety Restraints
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