Air Bag & Safety Belts

Air Bags and Seat Belts save Lives:

    • They are designed to work together.
    • Children riding in the front seat can be seriously injured or killed when an air bag comes out in a crash.
    • Everyone should be buckled and children should be properly restrained in the back seat.
    • Crashes are violent and fast. So to protect you, an air bag comes out of the dashboard in the blink of an eye with force. Remember, the most important safety step in any vehicle is to buckle your seat belt – on every ride.
    • It can hurt those who are too close to it, particularly those unbelted.
    • Passengers should never rest their feet or legs on dashboards or doors.

Safety Points:

    • Children 12 and under should ride properly restrained in a rear seat.
    • Infants should NEVER ride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger air bag.
    • Small children should ride in a rear seat in child safety seats approved for their age and size.
    • Check your vehicle owner’s manual and the instructions provided with your child safety seat for correct use information.
    • Everyone should buckle both lap AND shoulder belts where available.

Michigan’s Safety Belt & Child Restraint Law

Age 0 – 3         Properly secured in an approved child restraint system in a rear seat if available

Age 4 – 7         (& Under 4’9″ tall) Properly secured in an approved child restraint system/booster seat

Age 4 – 7         (& Over 4’9″ tall) Properly adjusted and fastened safety belt

Age 8 – 15       Properly adjusted and fastened safety belt

Age 16 +         Driver and front seat passengers shall wear properly adjusted and fastened safety belt

Check out the “Car Seat Safety Guide” link on the home page of this website for further information.

If you have questions on what is the proper child safety restraint for your child, or need assistance with installation of a seat or just want to have the seat checked, contact Officer Zack Stachurski at (989) 821-5207 Ext. 293 or email him at zstachurski@gerrishpolice.org.

Officer Stachurski completed his training in 2021 and is a Certified Child Passenger Safety Seat Technician.

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