Car seats bring out the strangest parenting style

A new study out shows that while most parents require their kids to ride in a booster/car seat in the family vehicle, they are much more lax when it comes to carpooling.

It made me think about parenting in general, and booster/car seats specifically.

Parenting is individual. Even two parents of the same children parent differently, and a lot of that has to do with the parent's upbringing and the child he or she is parenting.

I think most of you can guess that my kids don't ride in a car without a booster seat until they are old enough to legally do so. I do however, let my kids use the stove. Supervised of course, but they have been taught how to do it and I am confident in their ability and my standing right next to them will keep them safe.

I have a friend who is very lax in almost all parenting aspects, but she is vehemently opposed to taking kids out of rear facing car seats before they are four years old, and using a five point front facing contraption until they are 27. Okay, I kid about the 27, but she is serious about rear facing until four.

Another friend lets her kids out of their seats on the highway so they don't whine. She is college educated and a great mother, but this just isn't where she wants to fight a battle.

What do you guys think about letting your kid out of their safety seat for short rides or carpooling when it is to complicated to get their seat to the other parent? Is it one of your never break rules or more of a guideline in your house?