WASHINGTON Federal regulators want manufacturers of seat andshoulder belt positioning devices to warn customers that theequipment should not be used on young children.
Officials at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationproposed the warning labels this week to make clear the possibilitythat seat belt adjusters could cause greater crash injuries inchildren under age 6 than they otherwise would incur.
"This proposal, if adopted, would help parents provide for thesafety of children," Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater said.
Millions of after-market, seat-belt-positioning devices have beensold in the United States in the last 10 years. The devices oftenuse cloth or clips to lower the shoulder belt for children or smalladults so the belt does not ride up on their necks or heads.
However, unlike child seats, they are not regulated by any federalsafety standard.
In particular, agency officials worry that belt-positioningdevices may cause the lap belt to rise up in a crash and rest abovethe child's hips to increase potential for abdominal injury. Theyare seeking public comment on whether the warning label also shouldtell parents to ensure that an adult positions the lap belt lowacross the child's hips rather than on the stomach.
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