Safety Tips

A new law, effective June 27, 2022, requires children under the age of two to ride rear-facing, raises the age at which a child must use a child passenger restraint or booster seat to ten years old, and increases fines for certain violations. See the new Child Passenger Safety Law, click here.

• If the child is under two years of age, the child must be properly restrained in a rear-facing car seat with harness.
• If a child is two years or older but less than four years old, the child must be properly restrained in a rear-facing or forward-facing car seat with harness.
• All children under ten years old must be properly restrained regardless of how many seat belt assemblies are in the vehicle.
• Violators of the law will be required by the court to attend a child passenger safety class approved by the Hawaii State Judiciary.

A Hawai’i state tax credit of $25 per year applies to the purchase of a child safety seat.

• Always read instructions for both the car seat and vehicle for proper installation.
• Keep children in a rear-facing car safety seat as long as possible, until child meets the height or weight maximum of the seat (minimum of 2 years of age).
• Harness straps should be routed through slots that are at or below the child’s shoulders.
• Keep harness straps snug (should not be able to pinch harness at shoulders).
• Place chest clip at armpit level.
• Never put a rear-facing seat in the front seat with an active airbag.
• Recline car seat according to the level indicator on the car seat.
• Thread vehicle belt or LATCH anchor strap through rear-facing belt path.
• Never leave baby alone in and around vehilces.

• Always read instructions for both the car seat and vehicle for proper installation.
• Keep children in a forward-facing car safety with a harness seat as long as possible, until child meets the height or weight maximum of the seat (minimum of 4 years of age).
• Harness straps should be routed through slots that are at or above the child’s shoulders.
• Keep harness straps snug (should not be able to pinch harness at shoulders).
• Place chest clip at armpit level.
• Thread vehicle belt or LATCH anchor strap through forward-facing belt path.
• Use the Top Tether according to the instructions.
• Never leave a child alone in and around vehilces.

• Always read instructions for both the booster seat and vehicle for proper use.
• Children should ride in the back seat until at least the age of 13.
• Always use the shoulder and lap belt.
• Shoulder belt should be across the chest and lap belt should be low across the hips.
• Never allow the child to place the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back.
• Use a high-back booster seat if the vehicle does not have a head restraint.
• Never leave a child alone in and around vehicles.

• Most children need to ride in a booster seat until age 10-12 years (at a minimum of 9 years old).
• Children should ride in the back seat until at least the age of 13.
• The child must sit back all the way with the back against the vehicle seat.
• The child’s knees must bend comfortable over the seat cushion.
• The shoulder belt must fit comfortably across the shoulder and chest (never on the neck).
• The lab belt needs to be worn low across the hips (never on the stomache).
• The child needs to sit this way for the entire trip.