Discovering Costa Rica

Page 29

Infants up to one year, weighing less than 13 kg, and not taller than 75 cm:

Must

travel in an infant car seat located in the rear seat in the middle of the seat, with the

infant facing the rear window and the handle of the car seat should be secured

underneath, behind the infant’s head position

Children 1 – 4 years, weighing between 9 and 18 kg, and who are not taller than

110 cm:

Must travel in a seat with side protection and back support. Must be located

facing the front and in the center of the rear seat

Children 4 – 6 years, weighing between 15 and 25 kg, and who are between 110

and 145 cm tall:

Must use a booster seat with back support which must be located in

the lateral seats and secured with a three-point seat belt. Booster seats may

not

used in the central rear seats where the two-point seat belts are built-in

Children 6 – 12 years, weighing between 22 and 36 kg, and who are between 110

and 145 cm tall:

Must use a booster seat without back support. May travel in the rear

seat without a booster seat

the seat belt of the car does not reach their neck. The seat

belt should always go over shoulder and crossing the chest. If the seat belt touches the

neck, they may be strangled or cut in an accident. Booster seats may

not

be used in the

central rear seats where the two-point seat belts are built-in

Children taller than 145 cm and whose feet touch the floor of the car, can travel without a

booster seat as long as their back rests on the back support of the seat

Children must be secured to their seats at all times when the vehicle is in motion. Based on the

rule, if two children with heights of less than 110cm must be transported in the same vehicle, the

lighter of the two children must travel in the center of the rear seat and the other behind the

passenger seat. The head of the child must never surpass the top border of the infant/car seat’s

back support.

Violations of safety seat regulations carry a fine of

₡

198.000 colones and a

penalty of 4 points on the driver’s license.