WHILE PICKING UP MY OLDEST CHILD FROM SCHOOL, MY THREE YEAR OLD TODDLER REACHED THE SHOULDER SAFETY BELT LOCATED IN THE CENTER SEAT (NEXT TO HER CAR SEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE) AND IT GOT WRAPPED AROUND HER NECK AND NEARLY STRANGLED HER. MY CHILD YELLED FOR HELP. I GOT OUT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT AND RAN TO HER AID AND IMMEDIATELY PUT MY FINGERS BETWEEN HER NECK AND THE BELT. I SCREAMED FOR HELP. SEVERAL ADULTS CAME TO AID AND THE SEATBELT WOULD NOT LET UP. EVERY MOVEMENT AND ATTEMPT MADE TO GET IT TO RELEASE MADE THE BELT TIGHTEN EVEN MORE AROUND MY CHILD'S NECK. THE SEATBELT HAD TO BE CUT IN ORDER TO STOP THE HORRIBLE SITUATION THAT OCCURRED. THE CAR WAS IN PARK WHEN THIS OCCURRED. MY CHILD HAD NECK SWELLING AND SOME BRUISING FROM THE INCIDENT. HAD MY CHILD BEEN NON VERBAL AND NOT ABLE TO GET MY ATTENTION, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANCE SHE WOULD HAVE DIED. THERE IS NO REASON A TODDLER SHOULD BE ABLE TO REACH THE SHOULDER STRAP WHILE IN HER CAR SEAT HARNESSED. THE SEATBELT WOULD NOT LET GO. IT REMAINED LOCKED AND WITH EVERY MOVEMENT OF MY CHILD (MY CHILD WAS PANICKING AND MOVING) IT WOULD TIGHTEN FURTHER. A CHILD THAT AGE DOES NOT KNOW OF THE DANGERS OF SEATBELTS AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A SAFETY PRECAUTION IN PLACE FOR THIS KIND OF SITUATION. I BELIEVE THE SEATBELT IS DEFECTIVE AND EVEN SO THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF RELEASE BUTTON FOR THE MIDDLE SHOULDER STRAP.