Before installation, check the expiration date on your booster seat. Never use an expired booster seat. Under Georgian legislation, children must travel in an age-appropriate restraint system. For children under 3 years old, the best backward-facing position is the best position. Store them in the rear-facing car seat for as long as possible until they reach the upper seat limit specified by the manufacturer. Georgia specifically warns of the following types of „blatant abuse“ of car seats in the state: Georgia`s laws regarding motorcycle passengers are limited. All motorcyclists in Georgia must wear a helmet, including drivers and passengers. If you are transporting a passenger to Georgia on a motorcycle, the bicycle must have a seat large enough to accommodate both the driver and passenger. When children are injured as passengers in accidents, serious injuries often occur. In Georgia, children must sit in the right place in private cars and – if they are under certain age, weight and height groups – they must be in their booster seat or car seat. One of the reasons kids do better in the back seat of a vehicle during an accident is that head-on collisions are one of the deadliest types of car accidents.
The only time a child under the age of eight can sit in the passenger seat is when the rear seats are occupied and the correct child seat is installed in the front seat. This can be extremely dangerous for children under 40 pounds and airbags can be deadly for children. For example, Georgian law requires that children under the age of 8, who are also less than 57 inches (just under five feet) tall, must sit in the back seat of a vehicle. In Georgia, there are many protective measures designed to protect children. So what does Georgia state law say about car seats? There are two main requirements. Georgia has not updated its car seat laws since 2011, and they do not reflect our current knowledge of child occupant safety. Georgian legislators have recognized the critical role car seats play in child safety and have passed laws and regulations for their use. 8) Can my child legally drive in a vehicle without a rear seat? Unfortunately, it is believed that car seat abuse is common.
The CDC reports that 59% of car seats and 20% of booster seats „are abused in ways that reduce their effectiveness.“ Children are safer when sitting in the back seat of a vehicle. What for? The passenger seat of modern vehicles is equipped with shoulder harnesses and lap belts and protected by airbags. While these are essential safety devices for adults, they pose a serious risk to children. Exceptions: A child under 8 years of age and weighing at least 40 pounds is not exempt from the law. Such a child may use a lap belt instead of a car seat or booster seat if: If you`re planning a family trip to Georgia, it`s important that you meet (or exceed) local passenger safety laws. 5) Do church daycares have to use booster seats to transport eight-year-olds in a 16-passenger van? Rearward facing is much safer for children because it significantly reduces the risk of head and neck injuries. This resource is full of interesting information. Increase your safety Booster seats are the most overlooked part of car seat safety.
The goal of a booster seat is to reduce the risk of injury by properly adjusting the seat belt. Booster seats are recommended for children ages 4 to 7 who are less than 4 feet 9 inches tall. Most children do not fit properly into an adult seat belt until they are 10-12 years old, when they pass the 5-step test. Since the rear seat is furthest from the front of the vehicle, it is the safest place for a frontal impact. Seat belt only: Children no longer need to use a child restraint system if they are at least eight years old AND have reached a minimum height of 4 feet 9 inches. Note that it is always best to keep a child in a booster seat until they can sit firmly on the floor with their feet without bending. The seat belt should fall on his knees (not his stomach) and sternum (not his neck). See the „five-step test“ to learn more.
If you`re not sure if your child needs a booster seat, you can take the 5-step test developed by Safety Belt Safe U.S.A. in www.carseat.org. According to Georgia state law, all children under the age of 8 must sit in a car seat or booster seat appropriate for their age and height. Children under eight years of age and under 4`9″ must be in the back seat of a car. Safety – Any child seat manufactured or sold in the United States must meet strict federal government safety standards. That being said, five-point harness seats are considered the safest because they hold your child`s entire body and not just the neck or shoulders. Several advocacy websites, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and Children`s Hospital Atlanta, offer their recommendations for the safest child seat. Seat belts and airbags are designed to protect healthy adults.
If a child is seated in the front seat, they can suffer serious injuries to their seat belts and/or airbags. Airbags can even pose a choking and death hazard to young children when deployed. Comfort and compatibility – Your car seat should fit both your child and your vehicle. Bring your child with you when buying a car seat to ensure the right size, fit, and comfort. Georgia`s Car Seats Act requires children under the age of 8 to board a car seat or booster seat in accordance with the manufacturer`s instructions. Georgia does not specify how long children should be rearward-facing. At a minimum, parents should follow the instructions of the manufacturer of their specific car seat (called „proper use“). Although the law does not require it, research shows that children should ride in a strapped car seat (whether facing back or forward) until the age of at least 5.40 pounds and mature enough to sit properly throughout the journey. While Georgian law states that the safest place for a child in a vehicle is in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat, there are a few exceptions to the state`s front seat law. In the more than 20 years that we have represented individuals and families in Atlanta and throughout the state of Georgia, it has never been easier to hear about the serious injuries my clients have sustained and need to recover. While the entire Scholle Law team is empathetic to all of our injured clients, no lawyer ever forgets the terrible feeling that accompanies a serious injury to a child.
It states: „A child under 8 years of age may only sit in the front seat and be properly secured in a car seat or booster seat if: • the vehicle does not have a suitable rear seat to properly secure a child, or • all corresponding rear seats are occupied by other children. Children cannot safely or legally ride in a rear-facing seat in front of an active airbag. In addition, the vehicle must be equipped with a lap and shoulder harness when the child is seated in a booster seat. Booster seats cannot be used safely or legally only with lap belts. And before that, you need to follow Georgian laws regarding car seats and booster seats. Even under these exceptions, a child can only be restrained in a forward-facing car seat or a booster seat in the front seat in Georgia if they weigh 40 pounds or more. Some states do not have laws that prevent children from sitting in the front seats of vehicles, regardless of age (even if they are always seated in car seats). There are two main reasons why the front seat of a car is dangerous for children.
A backless booster can be used if your vehicle has high backrests and/or head restraints.