Effective Jan. 1, Georgia drivers who are cited for failure to follow the recently passed booster seat law will be fined with no chance for a waiver.
The new law, which went into effect July 1, 2004, requires children 5 years and under to be restrained in a car seat, or booster seat, in the back seat when in a motor vehicle. The seat should be appropriate for their weight and height and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
For the first six months of the law, drivers with children that were 5 years old and not in an appropriate seat were able to present proof of purchase of a seat to the court and have the fine waived. Now that the grace period has expired, Georgia parents and other caretakers could be fined if ticketed for not using a proper car seat or booster seat.
The law was sponsored by Rep. Mark Burkhalter in the Georgia State House of Representatives (R-36th) and carried in the Senate state Sen. Tom Price (R-56th). Gov. Sonny Perdue signed the new law last May to be effective July 1, 2004. The law was also supported by organizations such as Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, SAFE KIDS of Georgia (including many local SAFE KIDS coalitions), AAA, The Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Ford Motor Company.
Children should graduate from a standard car seat to a belt-positioning booster seat when they weigh more than 40 pounds. Booster seats can be affordably purchased at many discount retail stores.
Booster seats can reduce a child’s risk of serious injury or death from motor vehicle-related crashes by 59 percent.
In fact, children who only use seat belts are four times more likely to suffer serious head and brain injuries than those who use belt-positioning booster seats. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, only 10 percent to 20 percent of children who should use a booster seat actually do, accounting for a large number of preventable injuries and deaths.
Vehicle safety does not end when the booster seat is removed. Children of any age should always be properly restrained. Astonishingly, more than 60 percent of children killed in motor vehicle-related crashes are completely unrestrained.
Children do not fit an adult lap and shoulder belt until they are about 4’9” tall. Your child is ready for a safety belt when:
• They can sit up straight and keep their entire back against the vehicle seat.
• Knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat.
• The lap belt is low and snug across his upper thighs.
• Shoulder belt crosses the center of his chest and collarbone, never behind their back or under their arm.
• They are able to stay in this position for the entire trip.
Children’s and SAFE KIDS also recommend that parents frequently double-check that all restraint devices are installed and used correctly. According to a survey by Children’s, 96 percent of parents believe that their child safety and booster seats are installed properly. However, nearly 82 percent are not. Always refer to car seat or booster seat instructions and vehicle owner’s manual for correct use and installation information.
A parent whose child rejects booster seats should set an example by buckling up. Children are less likely to resist using safety precautions if their parents use them.
For more information on child passenger safety and the new law, call Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at 404-250-kids or visit www.choa.org or www.safekids.org.
