Buckled but putting seat belt behind back

tjham

New member
I had someone do this in my back seat and I made her fix it. I told her it wouldn't work at all in a crash (not even the lap portion), that it had to be across her chest for the automatic sensor to register and tighten in a crash. She fixed it. But I don't know where I got my info or even if it is correct. It just came out of my mouth! Then yesterday, I saw someone else do it, not in my vehicle though. I wondered again about exactly what to say to someone who is doing it and be accurate. Any links?
 
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Victorious4

Senior Community Member
You could simply show them your vehicle manual which always states NEVER to put the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back ;) Also, you could search the NHTSA website, too....
 

joolsplus3

Admin - CPS Technician
Some vehicle manuals DO tell you to do that, though (older ones) scary, huh? The lap portion WILL lock (try it sometime... just pull it out really fast), but that's ok, it's still incredibly unsafe to do. There's some stuff about how the lap portion pulls out and sort of balances with the shoulderbelt portion when the belt is used properly, which is why you never ever use a locking clip for an adult or boostered child, but I'm fuzzy on specifics of that, I'd have to remember where to look (maybe cpsplist from way back when...a couple years ago...).
 

Patriot201

Car-Seat.org Ambassador
I used to do that when I was younger. The seatbelts definitely didn't fit me when I was in elementary school, so I would put the shoulder portion behind my back. I think I did that until I was about 10 or so. Every car ride, every day, for SEVERAL years, I rode like that. :eek:

We did lots of other bad things- when I was with my cousins and there were too many of us to fit in one car, we would either put two kids in each seatbelt or we would pile a bunch of UNRESTRAINED kids in the back of a station wagon, mini-van, or later, an SUV. :eek: :eek:

Carseats were not mandatory until my younger brother was a baby. My parents had a carseat for me, but it was not required by law. I think I got out of the carseat when I was about three. I don't think booster seats existed back then (in the late 70s), so I didn't go into a booster when I got out of the carseat.

It is truly amazing that we all survived...
 
U

Unregistered

Guest
We had ALR belts and I used to pull the shoulder belt out WAY loose and let it 'hang' so that it wouldn't rub in my neck.
 

Kellyr2

New member
Here, too, Patriot. The seatbelts didn't fit me right, so I put it behind my shoulder. Riding in the cargo area of our van (VW - it had a big cargo area, not like these minivans) was a regular occurance if the space was needed. Riding with no belt at all on vacations and we needed the space for gear was common. (We always camped, so the van was packed full).
Now, I've seen my nephew put the belt behind his back sometimes and it drives me insane!!
 

Victorious4

Senior Community Member
I sort of absent mindedly figured the older ones say to do this for booster-sized kids (at least the ones I've seen -- ACK against directions telling adults to do this, too!) & that parents would also follow the booster seat directions ... but, I should have clarified: "always follow both vehicle & carseat/booster manuals" :eek: :rolleyes: ;)
 

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