Florida lawmakers are considering a bill that would require children to be properly restrained while riding in a car through the age of 5, and it’s getting an endorsement from AAA.
“Safety belts are designed for adults, and do not fit properly on young children,” said Kevin Bakewell, senior vice president of public affairs for AAA, in a release. “AAA is pleased that state legislators are taking action to protect children by requiring they be properly restrained in an appropriate safety seat.”
Florida has the weakest child passenger safety law in the county, AAA said. Right now, children up to 3 years old must be secured in a car seat. Children older than that are treated like full-grown adults, where they can sit in the regular seat, protected simply by a seat belt.
However, death and injury can be avoided by using age- and size-appropriate car seats, the organization said.
“While this legislation does not cover all children who need to be restrained, it is a step in the right direction,” Bakewell said. “It is difficult to comprehend why the bill has not passed in previous years. On matters of public safety, Florida’s parents look to public policy for solid guidance. That’s why improving this law is so important.”
AAA, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend that children who have outgrown their five-point harness car seat by weight or height use a booster seat until they reach the height of 4-foot-9, typically between the ages of 8 and 12. A booster seat literally “boosts” a child up, and allows for proper placement of the lap and shoulder belt, AAA said.
Without that seat, safety belts improperly cross over a child’s soft stomach and neck, which can lead to serious debilitating injuries in the event of a crash.
The House has already passed the bill, and it’s set to be taken up in the Senate on Monday, according to AAA. Right now, 48 states require children to be restrained in a booster seat once they have outgrown their car seat.
