Florida Auto Insurance: Car Seat Laws - Protecting Precious Cargo

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Children are undoubtedly the most precious cargo that parents carry in their automobiles. Nevertheless, improper usage of child restraint systems needlessly injures thousands of children on Florida's roads each year. While some of these injuries are caused by clear violations of Florida's car seat law, advocates for broader car seat laws claim that many of the injuries occur because Florida's car seat law doesn't go far enough.

According to the Florida Department of Transportation's car seat laws:

• All children 5 years of age or younger must be properly restrained no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle
• Children through age 3 must be secured in a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child safety seat
• For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child safety seat, or a safety belt may be used

Thus, under the Florida car seat law, children over 3 years old may ride in a vehicle using a standard adult safety belt. The problem with this according to advocates is that most children under 80 pounds are too small for an adult seat belt. Adult seat belts can actually be dangerous to children because the belt cuts directly across their neck instead of snug across the center of their shoulder. This can lead to serious injury or even death in the event of an accident.

So what's a safety-conscious parent to do? Car seat safety advocates recommend that Floridians follow one of the following guidelines:

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that children over 40 pounds use a belt-positioning booster seat until they are 8 years old, unless they are 4'9" or taller
• The American Academy of Pediatricians goes a bit further and advocates for booster seat use until the child reaches 4'9" in height and is between 8 and 12 years of age.

If your child resists using a belt-positioning booster, experts recommend the following:

• Avoid referring to the seat as a "car seat" or "baby seat." Instead, use the terms "booster seat," "safety seat," or "big boy/girl seat."
• If your car's back seat has headrests, consider using a backless booster which looks less like a "real" car seat to most children
• Discuss car safety with your children and the reasons a booster keeps them safe
• Emphasize the benefits of a booster seat, such as an improved view out the window, cup holders, and arm rests

In the end, the Florida car seat law should be viewed as a starting point for any child's traveling safety. Parents should take into consideration their child's unique height, weight, and other attributes that may impact their use of standard, adult seat belts. And if you have any doubts about what's the right thing to do, simply err on the side of caution. After all, you're protecting your most precious cargo.

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