Child Passenger Safety

Effective March 27, 2005, New York State joins twenty-eight other states to upgrade their child occupant protection laws to address the transportation needs of older children. The new law requires the use of booster seats or other appropriate child restraint systems for four, five and six year olds. A child restraint system is a device that is used in conjunction with safety belts, designed to restrain, seat or position a child in a motor vehicle and meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. These systems may include a child safety seat, harness/vest or booster seat which when used appropriately must meet the child's height, weight, and size recommendations of the manufacturer. A booster seat must be used with a lap AND shoulder belt. Previously, the law required children in this age group to use only adult safety belts placing them at increased risk of injury and death.

Many parents are unaware of the risks of using only safety belts and the need for booster seats when transporting their children. In fact, data collected through the 2003 New York State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), an ongoing statewide telephone survey, indicated that less than half of 4-8 year olds were reported as always using booster seats with use decreasing as a child ages.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 3,300 children ages 4-7 died in motor vehicle crashes in the nation from 1994-2002; 79 of those deaths occurred in New York State. More than 95% of these children were riding unbuckled or using only adult safety belts. Improperly fitting safety belts can cause needless injuries, even death in a crash or sudden stop situation. Booster seats properly position the lap and shoulder belt and reduce injury risk by 59% when compared to children who use only safety belts.

Adult lap and shoulder belts will not fit children properly until they are 4'9" tall, which is usually around eight years of age. The lap and shoulder belt should fit properly with the lap portion of the belt low and snug across the upper thighs and the shoulder portion crossing the chest and resting over the middle of the shoulder. The child also should be able to bend his/her knees over the edge of the seat when sitting with his/her back up against the vehicle seat.

The Bureau of Injury Prevention has developed a brochure and poster to promote the use of appropriate restraints and safe riding behaviors for children between the ages of four and eight that is available through the New York State Department of Health website.

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