Child restraint by age — Rhode Island Permit Test

A child under 8 who is under 57 inches and under 80 pounds must ride in a rear seat in a federally approved child restraint system.

An adult belt rides across a small child's neck and belly and can hurt them in a crash.

Any person transporting a child under the age of eight (8), less than fifty-seven (57) inches (4 ½ feet tall) in height and less than eighty (80) pounds in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of this state, shall transport the child in any rear seating position of the motor vehicle properly restrained in a child restraint system approved by the United States Department of Transportation under Federal Standard 213.

A child under 8 who is at least 57 inches tall may use a safety belt instead of a child restraint, still in a rear seat.

A tall child squeezed into a seat they have outgrown may not be held well.

If the child is under eight (8) years old but at least fifty-seven (57) inches in height, or at least eighty (80) pounds the child shall be properly wearing a safety belt and/or shoulder harness approved by the Department of Transportation pursuant to Federal Standard 208 in any rear seating position of the motor vehicle.

A child under 8 who weighs at least 80 pounds wears a safety belt in a rear seat rather than a child restraint.

A heavy child can be over the weight limit of a booster or car seat.

If the child is under eight (8) years old but at least fifty-seven (57) inches in height, or at least eighty (80) pounds the child shall be properly wearing a safety belt and/or shoulder harness approved by the Department of Transportation pursuant to Federal Standard 208 in any rear seating position of the motor vehicle.

The driver must make sure every passenger aged 8 through 17 wears a safety belt, in any seat.

Teens often unbuckle on short rides, and short rides near home are where most crashes happen.

Any operator of a motor vehicle transporting a child who has attained the age of eight (8) years but is under eighteen (18) years of age in any seating position within a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of the state shall ensure that the passenger is properly wearing a safety belt and/or shoulder harness system, as defined by Federal Standard 208.

A 6-year-old is 45 inches tall and weighs 50 pounds. How must the child ride?

In an approved child restraint in a rear seat. An adult belt rides across a small child's neck and belly and can hurt them in a crash. Rhode Island Driver’s Manual, p.26: “Any person transporting a child under the age of eight (8), less than fifty-seven (57) inches (4 ½ feet tall) in height and less than eighty (80) pounds in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of this state, shall transport the child in any rear seating position of the motor vehicle properly restrained in a child restraint system approved by the United States Department of Transportation under Federal Standard 213.”