Personal Injury Law

New Car Seat Guidelines released by NHTSA

By LaBovick Law

If you are a parent or have young passengers in your car using a car seat, please be advised that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has revised its child restraint guidelines. The new guidelines for child restraints are to be categorized by age rather than by type of child seat in order to keep pace with the latest scientific and medical research and the development of new child restraint technologies.

Car Accidents and Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages, 3 - 14, based on data from the National Center for Heath Statistics.  The NHTSA advises parents and caregivers to keep children in each restraint type, including rear-facing, forward-facing and booster seats, for as long as possible before moving them up to the next type of seat.

The NHTSA recommends using the restraints in the rear facing position as long as children fit within the height and weight limits of the car seat as established by the manufacturer. The rear-facing position reduces stresses to the neck and spinal cord and is particularly important for growing babies.

According to the NHTSA, its new guidelines are consistent with the latest advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics which advises parents to keep kids in rear-facing restraints until two years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat's manufacturer.

'Safety is our highest priority,' said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. 'The ‘best' car seat is the one that fits your child, fits your vehicle and one you will use every time your child is in the car.'

As a Florida Personal Injury Law Firm, we see firsthand how important car seats are in protecting children in car accidents.  We encourage our readers to read the information and share with parents of young children that use child restraints. Please read the new Car Seat Guidelines: 4 Step Flyer from the NHTSA and keep child passengers safe.

Click on the following link to read more from the NHTSA on new Child  Restraint Guidelines

Full post as published by LaBovick Injury Law Blog on March 22, 2011 (boomark / email).