Child passenger safety — Kentucky Permit Test

Kentucky law requires a child of forty inches in height or less to be properly secured in a child restraint system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.

Height decides this, not age, which surprises parents of a tall three-year-old.

Kentucky law requires that any driver of a motor vehicle, when transporting a child of forty (40) inches in height or less in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, and highways of this state, shall have the child properly secured in a child restraint system of a type meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.

A Kentucky driver transporting a child under eight years old who is between forty and fifty-seven inches in height must have the child secured in a booster seat.

Two measurements decide the booster seat: the age and the height, and both have to be met.

Any driver of a motor vehicle, when transporting a child under the age of eight (8) years who is between forty (40) inches and fifty-seven (57) inches in height in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, and highways of this state, shall have the child properly secured in a child booster seat.

A child of any age greater than fifty-seven inches in height is not required to be secured in a Kentucky booster seat.

Once a child is tall enough for the adult belt to fit properly, the booster has done its job.

A child of any age who is greater than fifty-seven (57) inches in height shall not be required to be secured in a child booster seat.

A person who violates Kentucky's Child Restraint Law is fined fifty dollars plus an additional ten dollar fee deposited in the Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund.

The extra ten dollars goes to the fund that pays for the injuries this law exists to prevent.

Any person who violates the provisions of Kentucky’s Child Restraint Law shall be fined fifty dollars ($50) and shall pay an additional fee of ten dollars ($10) which shall be deposited in the Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund.

A Kentucky child safety seat should ideally be placed in the middle of the rear seat and anchored to prevent movement in a collision.

The middle of the back seat is the furthest point from any impact.

the middle of the rear seat and anchored to prevent any movement in the event of a collision.

A Kentucky child booster seat is designed to elevate a child so they properly sit in a federally approved lap-and-shoulder belt system.

The booster is not padding. It lifts the child so the adult belt crosses the right bones.

A "child booster seat" means a child passenger restraint system that meets the standards set forth in 49 C.F.R. Part 571 that is designed to elevate a child to properly sit in a federally approved lap-and-shoulder belt system.

Help installing a Kentucky child safety seat can be found at a Child Safety Seat Inspection Site at a local Kentucky State Police Post.

Most seats are fitted wrongly, and the inspection sites exist because of it.

Assistance with the installation of your Child Safety Seat may be found at a Child Safety Seat Inspection Site at your local Kentucky State Police Post.

What height or less requires a Kentucky child restraint system?

40 inches. Height decides this, not age, which surprises parents of a tall three-year-old. Kentucky Driver Manual, p.31: “Kentucky law requires that any driver of a motor vehicle, when transporting a child of forty (40) inches in height or less in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, and highways of this state, shall have the child properly secured in a child restraint system of a type meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.”