Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Study Shows Proper Use of Child Seat Restraints Reduces Injuries
Child Restraint Use
| Child restraint use in the United States is higher than ever according to a report released on September 22, 2008 by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Association for Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM). The research revealed that over an 8 year period from 1999 to 2007 child restraint use increased from 51% to 81% in children younger than 9. During the same period, use of booster seats among children 4 to 8 years old quadrupled from 15% in 1999 to 63% in 2007. Proper use of booster seats among 4 to 8 year olds reduces the risk of injury in a crash by 59%. However, the proper use of these devices is imperative to their effectiveness. To learn more about the proper use of age appropriate Child Restraint Systems log on to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s web site: http://www.nhtsa.gov. This web site will provide the following valuable information: | |
| A Parent’s Guide to Buying and Using Booster Seats | |
| Play It Safe: My Traffic Safety Fun Site | |
| Occupant Protection for Children Safety Information | |
| Buying A Safer Car for Child Passengers | |
| Child Transportation Safety Tips | |
| Child Passenger Safety – 4 Steps For Kids | |
| CPS Growth Chart (English, Spanish) | |
Pennsylvania law mandates that children under 4 years of age are required to use a child restraint device. Nonuse is a primary offense. Children 4 to 8 years of age are required to use a booster seat. It is a secondary offense. The fine is a sliding fine up to $100.00. Fines will continue to go into a fund to purchase child safety seats for loaner programs that distribute child safety seats across Pennsylvania.
