This document discusses recommendations for child passenger safety in various vehicles other than standard passenger vehicles. It provides guidance on using car seats and booster seats in pickup trucks, 15-passenger vans, buses, and airplanes. For pickup trucks, it notes car seats must be secured in forward-facing vehicle seats and have at least 80% support from the vehicle seat. For 15-passenger vans, it warns against overloading the vehicle which can increase the risk of rollover crashes. For buses, it states they are the safest form of ground transportation and notes requirements for seat belts and lower anchors in some smaller bus models.

1. National Child Passenger Safety Certification Training Program
National Child Passenger Safety Certification Training Program
MODULE 11
CPS in Other Vehicles
11-1

2. Module 11 Objectives
• Identify appropriate car seats and booster seats
by vehicle type.
• Explain current recommendations for car seats
and booster seats in other vehicles.
11-2

3. Car Seats & Booster Seats
in Pickup Trucks
• Crash tested on forward-facing vehicle seats
– cannot be secured on side-facing jump
seat
• Undersized (or small) rear bench seats may
not allow enough space between front and
rear seating areas to achieve correct recline
angle on a rear-facing car seat
11-3

4. Car Seats & Booster Seats
in Pickup Trucks (continued)
• Must have 80% of the base supported by
vehicle seat with no more than 20% overhang
on front edge of vehicle seat. Some models
require 100%.
• Cargo areas NOT designed for passenger
seating.
• Only manufacturer approved seating positions
can be used.
11-4

5. Car Seats & Booster Seats in
15-Passenger Vans
• Childcare providers or
schools may use
15-passenger vans to
transport multiple
children.
• At times, they overload
the vehicle.
• Fully loaded, 15passenger vans cause
center of gravity to shift
rearward and upward,
increasing likelihood of
a rollover.
• NEVER load the roof.
11-5

6. Car Seat & Booster Seat on Buses
• School bus transportation
is the safest form of
ground transportation –
nearly
8 times safer than
passenger vehicles
• Buses are larger and
heavier than most other
vehicles. Crash forces
are distributed
throughout vehicle
differently and also
experienced by
occupants differently.
11-6

7. Car Seat & Booster Seat on Buses (continued)
• Passenger seating and crash
protection “compartmentalization”
is required.
• Small school buses required to
have seat belts. Lower anchors
also required in at least two
seating positions.
11-7

8. NHTSA’s School Bus Recommendations
• Preschool age children should be properly
restrained in car seats meeting FM VSS 213.
• Retrofitting seat belts on existing school bus
seats
is possible only when following manufacturer
instructions.
• Tethers are NOT commonly used on school
buses except with certain special needs seats.
11-8

9. Safety Options on School Buses
• Integrated car seats
• Conventional car
seats
• Harnesses and vests
• Wheeled
transportation devices
(wheelchairs and
strollers)
11-9

10. Car Seat & Booster Seats on Airplanes
• FAA encourages, but does
NOT require, use of car
seats on airplanes for
children under 2.
• The safest place for
children during turbulence
or in an emergency is in
an approved car seat.
• Any car seat used on an
airplane must have a label
stating it is certified for
aircraft use.
11-10

11. Car Seat & Booster Seats on Airplanes
(continued)
• Use a rear-facing car
seat for infants younger
than 1 and less than 20
pounds.
• Use a forward-facing car
seat for children weighing
20 to 40 pounds.
• Use the airplane seat belt
for children over 40
pounds.
• Do NOT use booster
seats
or vests as there are no
11-11