FAQs

Soak the entire vest in a non-chlorinated laundry sanitizer such as Lysol brand or a generic equivalent of detergent that contains benzalkonium chloride.

Steps:

1. Mix detergent in cool or lukewarm water according to detergent instruction
2. Soak the vest for 1-2 hours.
3. Rinse thoroughly in clean cool or lukewarm water several times to assure all of the detergents have been rinsed out of the fabric and panels.
4. Press panels between 2 dry towels to remove excess water.
5. Air-dry until no longer damp.

DO NOT:

• • Do not use any type of bleach.
  • Do not soak in alcohols or solvents such as isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, denatured alcohol, propylene glycol or any other glycol solvent, any butanol or butyl alcohol, etc.
  • Do not dry with a hairdryer.
  • Do not iron.

Gen5 Ride Safer Travel Vests can be washed in a washing machine.  Place the vest in a laundry bag to avoid damage from the metals on the vest hitting the wash machine interior, close all of the Velcro pieces so they do not snag the fabric, and use a non-chlorinated laundry detergent with cold or lukewarm water.  Air dry, preferably in the sun.

For topical sanitation, the vests and harnesses can be lightly sprayed with any of the following:

• Ethyl Alcohol Sprays (62% – 80% solution),
• Isopropyl Alcohol Spray (70% – 90% solution) 
• Hydrogen Peroxide soak or spray (3% – 12% solution)

Spray the inside and outside of the entire vest and allow to air dry (preferably in the sun.)

Although effective against Corona Viruses, the sprays may not be effective for other contagions, larvae, eggs, or odors. If HFMD, lice, bedbugs, fleas, etc. are suspected, please use the detergent soaking method to assure the contagion has not penetrated into the padding.

Yes. It is acceptable to have a gap between the shoulders and the top of the vest as long as the shoulder seat belt is:

• Below the bottom of the earlobe of the child
• Correctly routed through the shoulder belt guide
• Crossing the center chest

• The Vests that were manufactured between 2004 and September 2013 do not have an expiration date. However, the Gen3 vests, manufactured after September 2013 have a 10-year usable life.
• Vests manufactured in and after May 2023 have an expiration date of 5 years from the date of purchase.

• The current versions of the vests cannot be used on airplanes because we require a tether to be used with a lap-only seat belt. We are in the process of developing an accessory that will be compliant with FAA requirements for upper body support.  Please check back for updates on our website for availability and retrofitting capabilities to the older versions.

• The Ride Safer 2 (RS-2) Travel Vests are self-certified by our company to be compliant with all applicable aspects of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 213 for performance as a harness and for labeling.
• The Ride Safer 3 (RS-3) Travel Vests are tested according to the same prescribed testing procedure but is only tested with a lap & shoulder belt.

• Yes! The Ride Safer is a legal alternative to belt positioning boosters in all States that do not require the child’s body to be elevated off the vehicle seat and when used according to our instructions.

• Currently we do not recommend that the Ride Safer Travel Vests be used with belt positioning boosters not sold by Safe Traffic System, Inc.  Our backless boosters will be able to be used with the Ride Safer Travel Vests and are expected to be available soon. Please check back on our website frequently for updates on new product availability.
• Can be used with a Delighter Booster manufactured by Safe Traffic System, Inc.

• Transport Canada does not address vests in their Safety Standards.  Since the vest is to be used without a booster seat, it requires a prescription for legal use in Canada.  It is our understanding that the child’s physician may issue the prescription.

• No. The crotch strap is not required for use as long as the child is mature enough to sit upright during the entire trip.

• No. The head pillow is optional.

• Yes! Safe Traffic System does permit the use of Inflatable Seat Belts with the Ride Safer Travel Vests. If you own an older version of the vest, please contact Customer Support for a retrofit shoulder belt guide.

• Possibly.  We follow the guidelines recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

  NHTSA recommends that car seats be replaced following a moderate or severe crash in order to ensure a continued high level of crash protection for child passengers. Car seats do not automatically need to be replaced following a minor crash.

  What defines a minor crash?

  A minor crash is one in which ALL of the following apply:

  • The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site.
  • The vehicle door nearest the car seat was not damaged.
  • None of the passengers in the vehicle sustained any injuries in the crash.
  • If the vehicle has air bags, the airbags did not deploy during the crash; and
  • There is no visible damage to the car seat.

• Yes. Please contact our customer support for details about our recycle program.

Yes! They can use RideSafer Travel Vest with our Delighter Booster.

• Yes!  An Energy Absorbing Tether Anchor Loop (EATAL) must be purchased separately and attached to either the leg of the seat or to a locked seatbelt in the seat behind the child.

Safe Traffic System Inc. is aware that harnesses that look similar to the Ride Safer Travel Vests are available and can be purchased in many countries worldwide. We cannot attest to the safety of any product that is not labeled as “Ride Safer” brand and manufactured by Safe Traffic System, Inc., Franklin Park, IL.