Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Picking the perfect child restraint seat is nearly as difficult as choosing a flavor at your local ice cream parlor -- there are so many to choose from. Fortunately, several credible groups have spent time and energy to help make your choice easier.
Many child-restraint seats are installed incorrectly. Properly installed car seats reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Florida law mandates that children five and under be placed in a child safety restraint when traveling in a motor vehicle. Title XXIII, Chapter 316 of Florida Motor Vehicle Statutes details requirements for protecting children in vehicles.
Child restraint laws are intended to ensure the safety of the youngest passengers of any vehicle. These laws vary somewhat from state to state. In Texas, child restraint laws apply to all personal and commercial vehicles, including truck campers. There are some allowances, however, even within these rules.
On July 10, 2008, Massachusetts enhanced its child restraint law by adding a booster seat requirement. Motor vehicle operators assume responsibility for properly securing children up to the age of 13 under the child restraint law's provisions. Massachusetts' separate seat belt law covers the remaining minors, as well as adults, in the state.
Booster seat provisions are common in most states' child restraint laws. Parents often make the mistake of moving children to an adult seat belt, without an accompanying booster seat, too soon. While following the law is important, it is equally as imperative to realize that many state laws allow you to relinquish child passenger safety systems before it is safe to do so.
On July 1, 2008, Michigan's child restraint laws got tougher. Booster seats became mandatory for kids of a certain age and size. This strengthening of Michigan law helped the state achieve the highest rating of "good" from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for its child passenger safety regulations.
While legal requirements for child passenger safety vary from state to state--there are no national laws--the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is a leading authority on the topic. AAP sets a series of guidelines and requirements to ensure you are properly using age-appropriate child restraint systems to keep kids safe when travelling in motor vehicles. They also work to ensure that parents and other caregivers do not transition children to adult seat belts too soon.
All states in the United States (and the District of Columbia) have seat belt laws in place covering children. These laws differ according to age and child size. Additionally, these laws vary by state. Legal consequences of not having your children properly restrained when travelling in a car vary by state as well. It's important to know what the current safe and legal recommendations are when travelling with your children.
