Children under the age of ___ and less than 4 ft 9 in height must be properly secured in a child restraint system.

The guideline for securing children in a child restraint system is based on age and height to ensure their safety while traveling in a vehicle. In many jurisdictions, the requirement typically states that children under the age of 8 and those who are less than 4 feet 9 inches tall must be secured in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat. This rule is in place to protect vulnerable travelers, as they may not be adequately restrained by standard seat belts alone due to their size.

Choosing 8 years aligns with the regulations designed to keep children safe by using a suitable child restraint system until they are old enough and tall enough to be safely secured with just a seat belt. Being properly restrained significantly reduces the risk of injury in the event of a crash, reinforcing the importance of following these guidelines for child passenger safety.