Did you know that 2,754 people under the age of 19 in South Dakota were involved in car crashes in 2018?
Keep your little ones safe by following state car seat laws. We’ve got some important info below that can help you do just that:
South Dakota Car Seat Law
South Dakota states that:
“Any operator of any passenger vehicle transporting a child under five years of age on the streets and highways of this state shall properly secure the child in a child passenger restraint system according to its manufacturer's instructions.” (Source)
South Dakota Car Seat Safety Requirements
Child restraint laws in South Dakota are not very comprehensive. It is required by law that all children under the age of 5 will travel in a safety system that is designed for their age and federally approved. The law leaves it to you to figure out which car seat is right for your child. Safe Ride 4 kids have a great guide on this exact issue.
When Can My Child Sit in the Front Seat in South Dakota?
South Dakota Department of Social Services recommends that your child should travel in the back seat until they are 12.
Leaving Child in Car Law in South Dakota
There are currently no laws in South Dakota that would deal with leaving children in the vehicle. A record number of 53 children died in 2018 in the US because of being left in the cars. It is still possible to get charged with child neglect.
Is it Illegal to Smoke in a Car with a Child in South Dakota?
South Dakota doesn’t have any laws for smoking in a car with minors.
Taxi Car Seat Law in South Dakota
Laws in South Dakota aren’t clear whether taxis are required to follow child restraint laws.
South Dakota Law Car Seat - Replacement After Accident
There are no laws in South Dakota for the replacement of car seat after an accident.
Places to Get Car Seat Help in South Dakota
Here are some resources that can help you with the car seat inspection and provide you further help.
Good Car Seat Videos for South Dakotan Parents
Car Seat save lives
How to Install a Car Seat
Child Passenger Safety - Booster Seats
Child Passenger Safety - Harness Fit
Counterfeit Car Seats
The Inch Test
Resources for More Info on Car Seat Safety in South Dakota
Growing up I was a carefree male going about life like there was no tomorrow. Naturally, I ‘grew’ up, settled down and started a family.
Going from an independent carefree male to a family man was somewhat of a U-turn and required a lot of learning. Luckily for me, my wife works in education and has always been the shining light always ahead of me on all factors kids related.
Initially, my wife didn’t have a driving license (luckily this has now changed and it does make life easier), and all things car related were my task. Child locks were the obvious starting point which lead me down a rabbit hole.
So far we have personally tested dozens of convertible car seats and have owned five despite neither of our kids having reached the age of 5! Simply put, a car seat can be great on paper, work great on trying out but can fail on you in real life.
This is why I have put together this website – to help inform and educate you!
Of course, as I mentioned above, at the end of the day your experience will be the best test so I’d love to hear your experiences and feedback in the comments.
To contact me personally, please do so through my contact page.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Peter
P.S. If you click a link on my site and end up buying a car seat on Amazon, I’ll get paid a small commission (or as the Amazon lawyers put it: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases”)
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