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Safety Laws in Delaware
- Child Car Seat Laws
- Seat Belts
- Cell Phones
Page OverviewChild Car Seat Laws
Delaware works hard to keep child passengers safe. Each month, the Office of Highway Safety conducts free child seat safety checks. The officers answer questions about safety seats, recalls, placement, and installment. No appointment is necessary. Call (302) 744-2740 to find out when the next check is being held in your area.
Delaware law states that all children under the age of 12 must ride in the back seat of the vehicle.
Babies less than one year old and weighing less than 20 pounds must be placed in an approved rear-facing car carrier, with harness straps at or below the shoulders.
Children between 20 and 40 pounds will remain in an approved forward-facing car seat, with the harness straps across the shoulders.
Toddlers and children weighing 40-80 pounds "graduate" to a booster seat, which is buckled in using the vehicle's safety belts.
All children 16 years old and younger must wear a seat belt at all times.
If you're in the market for one, you can shop online for a child car seat at any time. When ordering, be sure the car seat matches your child's height, weight and age.
Seat Belts
Delaware requires that seat belts be worn by all passengers at all times.
Cell Phones
As of 2011, state authorities have banned texting and the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.
Other Topics in This Section
- Traffic Alerts
- 511 Traffic Systems
- Recalls
- Tire Recalls
- How Emotions Affect Driving
- Driving in Hazardous Conditions
- Teen Drivers: A Beginner's Guide
- Seniors: When To Turn Over The Car Keys
- Packing Your First-Aid Kit
- Seven Senior Safety Suggestions
- Wildlife on the Road
- When to Call Wildlife Rescue
- Taking A Mature Driver Course
- Medications & Driving
- Night Driving
- Hallucinations on the Road
- How To Drive Distraction Free
- Treating Motion Sickness
- Road Rage: How To Deal With It
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