South Carolina Officials Reinforce Car Seat Safety Guidelines
South Carolina health officials are reminding parents in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson area about car seat safety requirements for children of different ages, emphasizing rear-facing seats for infants and toddlers, forward-facing seats with harnesses for younger children, and booster seats for older…
Greenville Spartanburg Asheville Anderson, SC, August 6, 2026 —
South Carolina health officials are issuing a reminder to parents and guardians in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson region regarding essential car seat safety requirements for children.
The campaign emphasizes the importance of using appropriate car seats based on a child’s age, weight, and height to ensure their safety during travel. Officials are particularly highlighting the transition through different types of car seats as a child grows.
For infants and toddlers, the recommendation is to utilize rear-facing car seats for as long as possible, up to the maximum height and weight limits specified by the car seat manufacturer. This position offers the best protection for their developing bodies.
As children grow, they can transition to forward-facing car seats equipped with a harness. This stage is crucial for children who have outgrown rear-facing seats but are not yet ready for a standard vehicle seat belt.
Once a child reaches a certain age and size, they should move to a booster seat. Booster seats are designed to elevate the child so that the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belts fit properly across the strongest parts of their body – the chest and hips. Officials stress that children should remain in a booster seat until the vehicle’s seat belt fits them correctly without the need for the booster, typically when they are between 4 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 4 inches tall and between the ages of 8 and 12.
Furthermore, health officials are reminding the public that children should be secured in the back seat of the vehicle until they are 13 years old. The back seat is the safest place for young children as it is furthest from the impact zones in a crash.
These guidelines are intended to reduce the risk of injury and fatality in traffic accidents involving children. Parents are encouraged to consult their car seat manufacturer’s instructions and seek guidance from certified child passenger safety technicians if they have questions about proper installation or usage.
Story summarized from the original created by FOX Carolina News Staff, Enrique Salinas on www.foxcarolina.com, see more information here.
