A 3-minute lesson from the Connecticut course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Children need the right seat for their age and weight, and Connecticut spells it out step by step. As the driver, you're also responsible for making sure older kids and teens wear their belts.
Know the rule
State law requires children under 16 to be secured in proper child restraint and safety systems while riding in a vehicle.
If a child's age and weight fall in two different categories, the more restrictive requirement applies — for example, a child under two who weighs more than 30 pounds still needs a rear-facing seat.
Your nephew is 18 months old and weighs 32 pounds. By weight he'd move up, but by age he's under 2, so the more restrictive rule applies: a rear-facing seat with a 5-point harness, in the back seat.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
Under Connecticut's child restraint chart, what is required for a child under age 2 or weighing less than 30 pounds?
A forward-facing seat with a lap belt only
A booster seat only
A regular seat belt only
A rear-facing seat with a 5-point harness
Answer: A rear-facing seat with a 5-point harness
Children under 2, or under 30 pounds regardless of age, need a rear-facing seat with a 5-point harness.