On September 1, 2026, a seven-year-old rides in an ordinary qualifying car on a California highway. The child's mother is a passenger, a family friend drives, and no listed exception applies. Who remains responsible for the child's restraint?
The mother remains responsible for proper rear-seat child restraint✓Correct answer
Nobody is responsible because the driver's exemption covers every adult
The child may use an ordinary front-seat belt because a parent is present
Only the family friend remains responsible despite the parent's presence
Explanation
The mother's presence exempts only the driver from this particular duty; it does not exempt the parent or legal guardian who is riding in the car. The child therefore still must be properly secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint in a rear seat under the 2026 rule.