According to information received this week from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the effective enforcement date for the new booster seat law is October 7, 2009. Law enforcement will issue warnings only for the first six months. Full enforcement, with citations, will begin on April 7, 2010.
Ohio state law requires that children under four years old and under 40 pounds must ride in a car seat or booster that is appropriate for the child's age and
weight. Ohio state law also states that the car seat must be used according to manufacturer's instructions.
Beginning October 7, 2009, Ohio also requires that children ages four through seven who are less than 4'9" tall must ride in a federally approved booster seat.
Children through age 15 must wear a seat belt or be secured in an appropriate child restraint system.
Beginning October 7, 2009, Ohio also requires that children ages four through seven who are less than 4'9" tall must ride in a federally approved booster seat.
Children through age 15 must wear a seat belt or be secured in an appropriate child restraint system.
Booster seats are for older children who have outgrown their forward-facing car safety seats. It is best for children to ride in a harnessed seat as long as possible, at least to 4 years of age. If your child outgrows his seat before reaching 4 years of age, consider using a seat with a harness approved for higher weights and heights.
- A child has outgrown his forward-facing seat when any one of the following is true:
He reaches the top weight or height allowed for his seat with a harness. (These limits are listed on the seat and also included in the instruction booklet.)
His shoulders are above the top harness slots. - His ears have reached the top of the seat.
How do booster seats work to prevent injury?
Lap and shoulder belts are designed to minimize risk of injury and death by holding you into the car and spreading the energy of a crash over the strongest parts of the skeleton. Seat belts are designed for adults; because seat belts do not fit well on many children, they can distribute crash forces over soft tissue, rather than bone, leading to so-called seat belt syndrome. Depending on the age and size of the child, car seats or booster seats provide the best protection for young occupants and do the job of holding children securely in a vehicle and managing deceleration forces.
What is seat belt syndrome?
The term seat belt syndrome describes the spectrum of intra-abdominal and spinal injuries associated primarily with the use of lap belt restraints. For smaller passengers, including many children, seat belt syndrome injuries may also be associated with lap-shoulder belts. Placing larger, older children in lap-shoulder belts and younger, smaller children in car seats or booster seats are the best ways of avoiding seat belt-associated injuries.
Where did this 8 year/4'9" figure come from?
Children are ready for lap and shoulder belts alone when they can place their backs firmly against the vehicle seat back with their knees bent comfortably over the vehicle seat cushion. Lap belts should fit low and snug on the upper thighs and shoulder belts should rest over the shoulder and across the chest. Biometric research and peer-reviewed scientific studies have shown that for most children, that good fit is achieved by the time a child reaches 8 years of age, or earlier if the child has reached 4'9".
Lap and shoulder belts are designed to minimize risk of injury and death by holding you into the car and spreading the energy of a crash over the strongest parts of the skeleton. Seat belts are designed for adults; because seat belts do not fit well on many children, they can distribute crash forces over soft tissue, rather than bone, leading to so-called seat belt syndrome. Depending on the age and size of the child, car seats or booster seats provide the best protection for young occupants and do the job of holding children securely in a vehicle and managing deceleration forces.
What is seat belt syndrome?
The term seat belt syndrome describes the spectrum of intra-abdominal and spinal injuries associated primarily with the use of lap belt restraints. For smaller passengers, including many children, seat belt syndrome injuries may also be associated with lap-shoulder belts. Placing larger, older children in lap-shoulder belts and younger, smaller children in car seats or booster seats are the best ways of avoiding seat belt-associated injuries.
Where did this 8 year/4'9" figure come from?
Children are ready for lap and shoulder belts alone when they can place their backs firmly against the vehicle seat back with their knees bent comfortably over the vehicle seat cushion. Lap belts should fit low and snug on the upper thighs and shoulder belts should rest over the shoulder and across the chest. Biometric research and peer-reviewed scientific studies have shown that for most children, that good fit is achieved by the time a child reaches 8 years of age, or earlier if the child has reached 4'9".
No comments:
Post a Comment