Seat Belt Entanglement
Spot it
An unused seat belt a child can reach and pull all the way out; a child allowed to lie down or sleep on the seat instead of being buckled; a child playing with the belts in a parked car.
Fix it
NHTSA explains that most seat belts have a retractor that locks when the belt is pulled all the way out, so a child who wraps the belt around their head, neck or waist may not be able to free themselves. Keep children properly restrained and don't let them lie down on the seat. Teach them that seat belts are not toys, and don't let them play in or around cars. If an unused belt is within reach, buckle it: pull it out all the way to the end without yanking, then feed the excess back into the retractor, as NHTSA describes.
Safer swaps
What actually fixes this — the category to look for, not a brand we were paid to name.
Buckle unused seat belts so a child can't pull them outHabit
Free; NHTSA's tip
Teach kids that seat belts are not toys and keep them buckled, not lying on the seatHabit
Free; NHTSA's advice
No shopping list for this hazard — the fix is a habit, not a purchase.
Related checks
- Power Windows & Sunroofs — Another reason a child should not be left alone in a car.