Starting today, California, along with five other states, requires that tots be in car seats or boosters until eight years old or 4’9″ tall. The previous requirements were six years old or 60 pounds.
Although kids are in an uproar, it’s all about their safety. A properly fitting seatbelt must go across the upper thighs, not the stomach, and the shoulder belt must go across the chest, not the neck. If the seat belt does not fit correctly, children are at much greater risk of sustaining skull fractures and brain injuries in a crash. When the belt hits the neck, the kid often slips out of the shoulder belt and slides it behind their back, leaving them prone to serious harm
This crucial information and recommendation has been ignored by California’s previous governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has research and data proving this is safest for our tots, why would anyone ignore it?
A booster is very easy to use as its light and does not require installation. If you don’t let your tot have a choice, there will be no chance for protests. I admit it will be tough getting a booster-graduate back in one, but it’s the law!
Via ABC News Story
Image Credit: CarReview.com
