Off the Cuff

[#1]

Florida is the only state that does not have a child passenger safety law to protect children three and older—despite the fact that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children this age.

Driving from point A to point B children in our vehicle is a task many of us do everyday. It's easy to forget the risks associated with driving this precious cargo. While safety belts do save lives, they are designed for adults and can actually be a danger to small children. We encourage you to remember to use a booster seat to elevate your child. This will ensure that the safety belt is properly fitted.

Some folks feel that there's no need for a booster seat law, it's the parents responsibility for ensuring that their child is properly secured. But the reality is, many people look to the law for guidelines.

"Hey, if it's not a law, it must not be necessary."

The reality is that every other state has made this a legal requirement...so there's more than enough evidence to justify the need for booster seats in children three and older (until they outgrow the seat). Some opposed to this law are concerned that children will be embarrassed in a booster seat. This argument was also used for bicycle helmets, but common sense won out.

It's now Florida's time to pass this live-saving legislation. Georgia has recently passed a bill to strengthen their child passenger safety law which requires the use of a booster seat for children up to the age of eight. And Tennessee has one of the strongest child passenger laws that not only requires children up to the age of 8 to use a booster seat, but has an added a height limit of 4-feet-9 inches. Once they outgrow the booster seat, then children can safely wear a safety belt like adults.

We need your Help

AAA needs you help to pass this important legislation...a law that would protect this young and vulnerable age group. We urge you to contact your state legislators asking them to support a booster seat law to protect Florida’s children.

[#2]

Hear, hear! I can't believe Florida is the ONLY state without this law. I'm always horrified when I see people driving around with their children unrestrained. Knowing what can happen during even a minor impact at low speeds, I find this negligent at the very least. Even if the driver is only going 15 or 20 m.p.h., an unrestrained child could easily fly through a window. I hope Floridians will take this column to heart and contact their representatives ASAP.

[#3]

I was in a pretty severe accident a few years ago in a midsize sedan and I had my two boys in the back seat, both in child seats. We were hit by a guy who ran a stop sign. They ended up with some automotive glass in their hair and a couple of scratches, I stayed in the hospital for a week with a bleeding kidney.   I did have my seat belt on.  If they had only been wearing seat belts, they would have been thrown around like I was.  Child seats work.  Florida needs to catch up with newfangled technology.

[#4]

This is SO scary! I can't even fathom (sp?) how people could not understand the importance of seat belts and proper seat restraints/car seats for kids. I've been a liberal mom in many ways, but I have never, never been casual about proper car safety. One mistake - one quick stop - and the results could be tragic!

[#5]

This is why laws can be so useful. You would think that people would automatically do the right thing, the safe thing, and wear their seatbelts, but they don't. Even with the laws, some people fail to buckle up. But at least with a law in place, there is more of an incentive to do so and a certain punishment if they are caught not doing it.