Family Car Checklist
Take this checklist with you when you go shopping for a vehicle:
Safety Belt System
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Are there enough safety belts for everyone? |
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Can the vehicle's lap/shoulder belt system accommodate children who have outgrown safety seats and booster seats? |
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Is there enough room -- preferably in the back seat -- to install a child safety seat correctly? |
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Will the vehicle's seat design interfere with safety seat installation? (Check slope, humps, contours, splits and safety belt anchorages.) |
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Do safety belts have locking features (locking or switchable retractor) for safety seats? |
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Are tether anchorages available? (Some vehicle manufacturers can provide retrofit anchorage kits.) |
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Are adjustable upper belts available? |
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Are built-in child restraint systems available? |
Other Important Safety Features
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Head restraint protection for rear seats. |
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Safety door locks so children cannot open doors from inside vehicle. |
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Override window controls. |
To Learn More ...
This brochure is a companion piece to Buying a Safer Car and New Car Safety Features, which contain a full range of safety-feature information and crash-test results on cars, light trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans. Safety features include air bags (front and side), advanced safety belts, anti-lock brakes, traction control, rear-seat head restraints and adjustable upper belts. Crash-test ratings from the U.S. Department of Transportation's New Car Assessment Program are included.
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration
400 Seventh Street, SW
NTS-21
Washington, DC 20590
Fax: (202) 493-2062
Or call:
NHTSA Auto Safety Hotline
1-888-DASH-2-DOT
(1-888-327-4236)
Other resources for vehicle safety information:
