Car seats for children have existed since 1962, and they have come to play an integral part in our children’s safety. As traffic and car speeds increased, so did the likelihood of an accident. A car seat is a life-saving device for children involved in a car accident. Learn about Pennsylvania’s car seat regulations and safety.
Pennsylvania Car Seat Laws
In Pennsylvania, there are a few laws that have been developed in recent years to increase the safety of our children. As more and more information and research is released regarding child car seat safety, Pennsylvania has developed laws around the research:
- Children that are under the age of 2 should be securely fastened in a rear-facing child safety seat.
- Children under 4-years-old should be securely fastened in a child passenger restraint system.
- Children between the ages of 4-8 must be securely fastened in a booster seat.
- Children ages 8-13 must be securely seated and properly restrained by the safety seat belt system.
The laws and regulations are tied to age, but it is recommended you take into consideration your child’s size and weight. It does not hurt to continue utilizing the booster seat for children over eight years old. Failure to follow the child car seat safety laws in Pennsylvania will result in a ticket as a standard offense. Typically police officers will run standard car seat safety checks in shopping center parking lots or malls.
Pennsylvania Car Seat Crash Facts
According to a research study by crash stats in 2017, 325 children (under the age of 4) lives were saved by their car seats. Another crash stats article indicates that child fatalities have on average decreased from 2009 to 2018. During this time, a large number of laws were set in place on the state level regarding child restraints and safety in motor vehicles. According to the United States Department of Transportation, 46% of car seats are used incorrectly.
Correct Car Seat Usage To Protect Your Child
There are four ways your child can be safely restrained in the car; rear-facing car seat, front-facing car seat, booster seat, and safety seat belt. These four types of child safety restraints are designed for children of different ages. While the Pennsylvania laws regarding age are a great way to gauge which type of car seat to utilize for your child, weight and height can be a much better indicator. Typically there are weight suggestions on your car seats.
Replacing A Car Seat After An Accident
If you are involved in an accident, you will need to replace the car seat that was involved. If the car seat was empty and just the base was present, you will need to replace the car seat base. While there may not be any visual damage to the car seat base, the car seat’s integrity could be compromised due to the shock it sustained in the crash. Luckily, most car insurance companies cover your car seat and will be able to replace it at no cost to you.
Contact Strickler Insurance
If your car insurance doesn’t replace your child’s car seat for free, contact Strickler Insurance. We can provide a free car insurance quote and will make sure your coverage includes the replacement of your car seat because your family’s safety is our number one priority.
