Booster seats can reduce the risk of serious injury in an automobile accident by 45 percent compared to seat belts alone. However, many caregivers move their child from a booster seat to a seat belt before the child is big enough.
Understanding The Problem
Safe Kids Worldwide surveyed over 3,000 parents of children ages 4-10. The study found that three out of four caregivers didn’t know that children should be at least 57” tall (4’9”) to ride in a car without a booster seat. Four out of five moved their child from a booster seat to just a seat belt before the child reached that height.
Seat belts are safer than no restraint, but children who are not yet tall enough to be out of a booster seat are at risk of severe abdominal, head, and spinal injuries. Booster seats save lives and prevent serious injuries when used properly.
School drop-off and pick-up policies often require children to get in and out of the vehicle quickly and without assistance, which can lead parents and caregivers to transition to seat belt alone too soon. 30% of caregivers surveyed said that they sometimes allow children to ride in vehicles without seat belts and without the car seat or booster seat they would normally use.
Safety Belt Fit Test
Not sure whether your child is ready to stop using a booster seat? Do the Safety Belt Fit Test:
- Look at the positioning of knees and feet. Knees should bend at the edge of the seat while the child’s back and bottom are against the back of the seat. Feet should touch the floor.
- The vehicle lap belt should fit snugly across hips or upper thighs.
- The shoulder belt must fit across the shoulder and chest. It should not be across the face or neck.
Booster Seats Protect Children
Vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of child death and injury. Using appropriate restraints can reduce this risk. Although parents and caregivers often focus on choosing the right car seat for newborns and infants, they may not have the same level of awareness of what’s needed as their child grows.
Of the 42% of children ages 4-10 who died in motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2022, 42% were unrestrained. Booster seats reduce the risk of serious injury and are crucial for children in this age group who have outgrown their forward-facing car seat with a harness but aren’t yet tall enough to use a seat belt alone.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact the Schuerman Law office today. Schuerman Law has been working with personal injury claims for over 40 years. John Schuerman will compassionately advocate for injured individuals as well as their families while fighting for full compensation of their claims. Schuerman Law offers evening and weekend appointments in addition to home and hospital visits. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1-800-274-0045.
