A new bill proposes to change current Tennessee standards surrounding car and booster seat usage. If passed, children will be required to ride in these protective seats for a longer period of time.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asserts that car crashes are one of the leading causes of death in children between the ages of 1 and 13. While car seats were estimated to save an average of 9,600 lives between 1975-2010, three out of four of them are not used correctly. This can reduce their effectiveness.
Tennessee’s new bill, supported by individuals such as Representative John Ray Clemmons, aims to utilize the protection that car seats offer for a longer period.
Tennessee's current car seat laws require:
- Children 1 or younger should be in rear-facing car seats
- Children must sit in forward- facing until age 3
- Booster seats must be used be used until age 12 or 4’9” height
The proposed new bill will require:
- Children 2 or younger to sit in rear-facing car seats
- Children between 2 and 4 years to sit in forward-facing car seats
- Booster seats must be used be used until age 12 or 4’9” height
Pediatricians, who say that car seats can save lives, support the bill. Neil Stinson, clinical staff leader at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital’s pediatric emergency room, states,
For the shorter, smaller child, the ones that weigh less, to raise them up off the car seat a little bit onto the booster so that the seat belt crosses them around the chest and not around the neck, you would save dozens of lives per year.
Children are at greater risk of injury or death in a car accident. It is important that they be properly protected. If your child suffered damage because of someone else’s negligence or a malfunctioning car seat, contact our Nashville auto accident attorneys today. We will prioritize your needs and help you seek the justice you deserve.
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