Vent my neice improperly buckled in a booster

while at my moms for christmas, my niece wasn't feeling well so i offered to drive her & my brother to my house since i had some motrin. the stores were closed for christmas. sooooo i took my moms van since her booster was already in there. the headrest of the evenflo big kid was set all the way down. I KNOW my niece needs it set much higher so i moved it up. my brother buckles her in with the lap portion OVER the armrests. i said it supposed to be under the armrest. my brother says that she doesn't like it that way & she'll be fine. i didn't want to drive off. i bit my tongue & drove on.

my neice proceeds on the trip (all of 10min each way) to complain about her back hurting? i guess the way it adjusts hits her back funny? we ignored that. but when we returned back i noticed that she pulled the shoulder belt OFF her shoulder onto her arm! i didn't know she was that way cause she had a blanket over her.

it just upsets me that he has no regard for safety in the car & has created a major problem with her ever buckling properly. i'm trying so hard to be quiet, its not my kid. i just have to pray.....she is 7yo & i KNOW that when she turns 8yo they will take her immediately out of a booster cause she'll be legal in a seatbelt.

i wish i could really do something to help them understand the importance of buckling properly. so sad

Honestly, being in just a seatbelt may be safer than how improperly used her booster is.

I wouldn't have driven her. Nevermind the safety issues- in most states there is a proper use clause and driving her improperly restrained would end in a ticket. If there was an accident you could be liable :twocents: .

you are better at biting your tongue than I would have been... but then, I insist everyone ride properly in my car... end of discussion... and we don't move if someone is moving the seatbelt off his/her shoulder.

i'm really hesitant on conflict. i don't like to step on anyones toes. i know i should've just fixed it & i would have if it was just her & me. it was that my brother is the father & i'm just an aunt. it felt it wasn't my place to say anything more than what i did. i told him it wasn't right nor safe. he blew me off.....
i hadn't realized that i could have been held liable if something were to happen. you do learn something new everyday. thank you! that will help me in the future. i don't usually see them so this situation rarely comes up. even for friends....i don't drive friends since i have no space for anymore people but our own family in our van.

I don't like to step on toes either... if I was the passenger, spoke up and they chose not to listen, I would feel that would be the end of it. But if I was the driver? They follow best practices.

I've made a few people mad (and I'm pretty non-confrontational,) but I honestly don't care.