It’s vitally important that your child is safely secured in the proper restraint system in your vehicle. And these regulations can change. One such change has recently gone into effect in Pennsylvania. This new legislation requires young children to ride in rear-facing car seats until age two (2). Previously, the age was one (1). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, these kinds of seats will better protect young children in car crashes.
There are laws governing child restraints for children up to 12 years of age. PA law requires that children under four are restrained in an approved child passenger restraint system (such as a car seat), and for children between four and eight years of age be restrained in a booster seat. Additionally, children 12 and under should never be in the front seat of a vehicle.
It’s been estimated that 4 out of 5 child safety seats are installed incorrectly, and approximately 40% of children under the age of eight who are injured in car crashes are unbelted. This often leads to fatal accidents. So in addition to ensuring your child is in the proper restraint system, it’s important to make sure the seats are installed in the car correctly, and that the child is properly strapped into the seat.
There are several stations around the state and the US where you can have your child car seat evaluated for safety and be shown how to install it properly. Generally, this service is offered at little or no cost to you. You can find a location nearby here: https://www.safercar.gov/cpsApp/cps/index.htm
Here are some basic tips about installing car seats in your vehicle:
And some tips on how to correctly fit your child into the car seat:
Just a few tips and tricks to keep your kids safe, from the Attorneys at the Pagano Law Firm.