Car Seat - Position of Handle during transport

Doodle30 · #1 06-07-2012

Hey all you Parents (I recently joined the club)

I should include any cops or emergency service guys that might have a better understanding of the law.

We have a Greyco carseat (New off the shelf) and the carseat states that we should transport our son with the handle in the up position. Most people have told us that is not the case and the handle should be down during transport. One friend stated that her sister was fined a couple of hundred bucks for a handle in the up position. (Sister is a BC resident so fine may have occued there)

Due to liability Fire departments no longer comment or approve anything to do with carseats. When I spoke to the local Police Detachment (Chestermere) gentleman said this is a law that seems to change frequently. Nice guy but essentially he couldn't confirm the law. Said that he suggests I follow the manufacturers recommendation and have proof of that in the car at all times. Said few police officiers would fine with that proof in the car.

I will call a Calgary office to get another opinion but I was curious if anyone on here could provide more detail.

Doodle

mountain_man · #2 06-07-2012

Congrats for joining the very expensive club!!
As for the car seat handle position, we drove with it both ways and never had an issue either way, both here in Alberta or BC when we travelled there. We travelled with it down in the truck as we had more room, and up in my wife's little car.
I never heard anything about any laws stating which way was correct or not, but never had any issues either way.

Purple Farmer · #3 06-07-2012

We always have the handle down (easy access) I have never heard of any regs re handle up or down, we were stopped once at a local blitz by RCMP on car seats and we were sent on our way.

And Congrats, life sure changes fast.

killer_chicken · #4 06-07-2012

Ours instructed us to have the handle down while driving. I would recommend following the mfg recommendations, as the car seat was likely tested in that configuration.

As far as proof, I think ours had a sticker on the side with the instructions, that should be all you need for proof, if yours has the same.

javlin101 · #5 06-07-2012

Take it a Police Station and ask for their opinion.

ÜberFly · #6 06-07-2012

I have done inspections on car seats for both AHS ( back when it was the CRHA) and Saskatoon district health (as part of the Kids in Safety Seat Program "K.I.S.S" Check program) One of the reasons why the handle must be down is the possibility of it breaking (and shattering) which = sharp edges in a collision....

You can go to your local community health clinic and the nurses should all be trained...

Doodle30 · #7 06-07-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by killer_chicken

Ours instructed us to have the handle down while driving. I would recommend following the mfg recommendations, as the car seat was likely tested in that configuration.

As far as proof, I think ours had a sticker on the side with the instructions, that should be all you need for proof, if yours has the same.

Ours does have a sticker as well so the proof is always there.

I spoke with traffic department as I was told they would be best suited to asnwer the question. The first person was not aware of any law but had me leave a message for the training department. Felt they would have an answer for me.

drake · #8 06-07-2012

Im a new parent too and i had the same question. I got a bunch of different answers....i finally phoned the manufacturer and they explained that the handle is engineered into the structure of the car seat and can save a childs life in the event of a rollover/roof colapse. Makes sense to me. We drive with up all the time.

Doodle30 · #9 06-07-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by ÜberFly

I have done inspections on car seats for both AHS ( back when it was the CRHA) and Saskatoon district health (as part of the Kids in Safety Seat Program "K.I.S.S" Check program) One of the reasons why the handle must be down is the possibility of it breaking (and shattering) which = sharp edges in a collision....

You can go to your local community health clinic and the nurses should all be trained...

Uber

Your reasoning makes total sense but I am curious why the manufacturer makes such a recommendation considering the work you and similar departments have done. Is your work in this area new?

Doodle30 · #10 06-07-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by drake

Im a new parent too and i had the same question. I got a bunch of different answers....i finally phoned the manufacturer and they explained that the handle is engineered into the structure of the car seat and can save a childs life in the event of a rollover/roof colapse. Makes sense to me. We drive with up all the time.

Drake

Are you using a Greyco? We where planning to call the manufacturer tonight.

bigdaddy37 · #11 06-07-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountain_man

Congrats for joining the very expensive club!!
As for the car seat handle position, we drove with it both ways and never had an issue either way, both here in Alberta or BC when we travelled there. We travelled with it down in the truck as we had more room, and up in my wife's little car.
I never heard anything about any laws stating which way was correct or not, but never had any issues either way.

X2

In one vehicle, the handle was down, in another the handle stayed up because there wasn't enough room for it to be down.

Just follow the manufacturers instructions - they should be in the book and can also be found on the side of the seat itself. Make sure the base is secured and the straps that hold the little one are snug - 2 fingers slide under the strap. Too loose = ticket. Also, make sure the chest clip is in the middle of their chest. Too high or low also = ticket.

drake · #12 06-07-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doodle30

Drake

Are you using a Greyco? We where planning to call the manufacturer tonight.

Yes we do

ÜberFly · #13 06-07-2012

PM Sent

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doodle30

Uber

Your reasoning makes total sense but I am curious why the manufacturer makes such a recommendation considering the work you and similar departments have done. Is your work in this area new?

ÜberFly · #14 06-07-2012

I sent this info via PM but may other could benefit, as well...

I have not worked in this capacity for several years.

My advice would be to follow the manufactures recommendation in the instruction manual as this is your recourse if you ever do get a ticket (which I doubt you would as most traffic cops have no clue - as in ZERO). A few do, however...

A couple of other things.... Please fill out your warrantee card and send it in. If there ever was a recall on the model you have this is the way you find out as they are leagally responsible to try and contact you!

Car seats are not designed with specific vehicles in mind so what fits in one vehicle may not fit in another so if you have multiple vehicles (or switch between grand parents/sitters, etc., you may in fact have to purchase additional seats - most stores will allow to to take a seat and try a fit test in your vehicle before buying)...
Please note! American standards are not the same so beware if purchasing seats in the USA!

The best place for a car seat to be is in the centre of the back seat (more vehicle around the seat to protect the child, plus when you look in the mirror, baby can see you and you can see baby (they can at least see your eyes most likely - for forward facing seat!). Please be very aware of different season and various clothing the child is wearing and re-adjust... ALWAYS!

Be very cautious of the type of seat belt and latch and know when a locking clip has to be used (if infact you have this type of set up - different set up these days but you may in fact have an older vehicle).

Always read the cars manual for specific installation instructions as all passangers vehicle are required to have detailed instructions, if not ask the dealer/manufacture and don't take no for an answer! The exception with this is with utility vehicles (that was covered in a previous thread a few weeks ago for forward facing seats).

As I mentioned most if not all public health nurses are trained in AB ( or at least some of the staff are trained in each clinic)

One more thing! Unless you know the history of a car seat NEVER buy a used seat at a garage sale or take one from a friend, relative, neighbor, etc. Unless you are ABSOLUTELY sure! As with seat belts (bike helmets, etc) they are only designed for one impact and need to be destroyed if they are ever in a collision (sometimes just the harnesses can be replaced but that needs to be determeined through specific testing - easier to just buy a new seat)!! The life of a seat is about 5 years (but don;t quote me on this - could be as high as 10 years - plastic breaks down over time, especially when exposed to UV rays)

Forward facing seats have different regs as do booster seats (little safey benefit with regards to booster (not regulated) they are more for the comfort of the child wearing a seatbelt and sitting in the vehicle!

Peter

buckbrushoutdoors · #15 06-07-2012

I usually keep the handle up so we can hang his toys from it to entertain him. But now that he is older and we carry him around outside his car seat it's usually down.

plmnnkoqaz · #16 06-08-2012

I read the traffic safety act a few months ago. If I remember correctly, the act says that the seat must be installed to the manufacterer's specifications. So I guess if it says handle down, then handle down. My Graco and Safety First seats make no mention of handle position while driving.

Hope this helps.

dollfin · #17 06-08-2012

Here is a number for car seat safety with the Gov. of Ab. which looks after the Transportation Safety Act in Ab. just call 310-0000 and
enter 780-427-8901, I hope this helps

AbAngler · #18 06-08-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by javlin101

Take it a Police Station and ask for their opinion.

I did just that for ours. Had an officer come out and inspect our setup. He told us that it is the law to have the handle down, but he nor any of his co-workers had ever given a ticket for handle up. We drove away with the handle up.

Clear as mud eh?

justsomeguy · #19 06-08-2012

Follow mfg instructions, it varies by brand. Always carry manual in car as proof of proper use and installation.

If u don't follow instructions and get in an accident your insurance will use it as an excuse to deny coverage for any claim.

chasingtail · #20 06-08-2012

20 years ago hardly anyone was in car seats now we have to worry about being fined if a handle is up or down lol.
My wife puts it down on ours as she was told by someone what uberfly said, but drakes post makes a lot of sense to, I do either or. I think car seats and safety laws is one reason we don't have more kids, you run out of room in vehicals real quick when you have 3 car seats like we do lol. What really sucks is the buggers expire to quickly and you end up having to buy another one between the first kid and the last, good racket they got going on.