Child car seat laws are classified into several groups depending on the kid’s age, height and weight parameters, car inside accommodations and some other factors. Each State also has its own requirements for car seat type, kids’ age and disposition inside the vehicle. Infants and toddlers are well guarded by these preventive measures. Although the majority of the US states recommend baby car seat application before the child gets to the age of 4, booster car seats permit child comfortable safety until he or she weighs 80 pounds. This creates good ground for optimal crash protection.
Small infants under 2 years are illegal to place in a forward facing position inside the vehicle. The child must be safely restrained by all the belts available in the car. The only exception is licensed taxi carrying that was introduced for practical reasons.
General laws that apply to almost every state claim that small infants under 2-3 years old have to ride in a rear position. Older children of 3 and above can take a face forward position. All the correct restraints must be used. The exceptions for non-seat baby riding are licensed taxi transportation or unexpected necessity travel for a short distance. Two restraints can complement the lack of the third. The kid can also travel without restraining in case no seat belts are available to use in the vehicle. The restraining of all the children of three and above is the responsibility of the driver.
As for older children that are of age 12 or achieved the height of 135 cm, they must always wear a seat belt if it is available. It is still driver’s responsibility to make sure all the seat belts are fastened until the kid turns 14.
The corresponding rules apply to similar vehicles such as vans, minibuses, coaches, buses, and good transportation vehicles. When it happens so that the driver has more passengers than unoccupied seatbelts, then some of them can take a reared position inside the vehicle without using seatbelts. Although such a measure is legal, it doesn’t guarantee proper safety level. The smartest solution would be incorporating several vehicles or making two trip journeys. The driver who is found responsible and guilty for the child’s improper seatbelt position can be charged with heavy fines and have damage for his driver insurance. Civil proceedings related to damages are no exclusion if you failed to ensure the safety of somebody else’s child though your young passenger’s life is always the foremost priority for everybody.
External links:
- Infant car seat
- Child Safety
- Child Passenger Safety Laws