Safe driving and emergencies
A child is under 2 years old, weighs less than 40 pounds, and is shorter than 3 feet 4 inches. How must the child ride in your vehicle?
- In a rear-facing child passenger restraint system, and not in the front seat of a vehicle with airbags. Correct answer
- In a forward-facing safety seat in the back seat.
- With a regular seat belt, as long as the child is in the back seat.
Why
California sets its child-restraint rules by age, weight and height. A child who is under 2, under 40 pounds and under 3 feet 4 inches must ride rear-facing, and a rear-facing seat may not go in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with an airbag. Children under 8 or shorter than 4 feet 9 inches ride in a child passenger restraint system in the rear seat, with a short list of exceptions such as a vehicle with no rear seat. Only from age 8, or once the child reaches 4 feet 9 inches, may a properly secured seat belt be used. Forward-facing seats and plain seat belts are therefore for older or bigger children, not for a toddler. Your local fire department or law enforcement agency can check how the seat is fitted.
Where this comes from
California Driver's Handbook, DL 600 ENGLISH (REV. 6/2025). The correct answer is In a rear-facing child passenger restraint system, and not in the front seat of a vehicle with airbags..
- Section 8. Safe Driving › Protect Yourself and Your Passengers › Child Restraint System and Safety Seats , page 66
- Section 8. Safe Driving › Protect Yourself and Your Passengers › Child Restraint System and Safety Seats , page 66
- Section 8. Safe Driving › Protect Yourself and Your Passengers › Child Restraint System and Safety Seats , page 66