Free Child Booster Seats Available To Comply With Florida Law
In an effort to reduce car accident injuries involving children, a new Florida law went into effect January 1, 2015 requiring that all children must ride in a crash-tested, federally approved car seat or booster seat until they reach the age of 6. Previously, children ages 4 and 5 were only required to wear a seat belt, but did not have to ride in a car seat or booster seat.
The Florida law is aimed at reducing serious car accident injuries and deaths with children. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of deaths for Florida children ages 3 through 19. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) keeps statistics on Florida car accident injuries and car accident deaths. NHTSA statistics indicate that most car accidents in which a child death or injury occurs is caused by the improper use or failure to use a seatbelt.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) also maintains information regarding Florida car accidents for children. AAA records show that the risk of injury for children riding in a car seat is reduced by 75%, and the risk of death in Florida car accidents is reduced by 28% when compared to children using only a seat belt.
The good news is that the American Automobile Association (AAA) is giving away free child booster seats during the month of January 2015. This means there is no good reason to not have your child properly strapped into a child seat or booster seat. To qualify, you must contact the local AAA office in Florida to schedule an appointment. AAA is giving out free booster seats every Friday in January. To pick up a free seat, you must set up an appointment and the seat has to be for a child who is at least 4 years old.
Once you get your child safety or child booster seat, make sure it is installed properly. AAA statistics indicate 3 out of 4 seats are not installed properly. AAA will install the seat for you. Or, if you already own a child safety or child booster seat, go you a local fire department station where they will check to make sure your seat is installed correctly.
Safety features in today’s cars – air bags, anti-lock brakes, shoulder restraint seat belts – and child safety seats and child booster seats – can great reduce the potential for a serious accident or injury in a car accident. Most cars come equipped with all these safety features as standard equipment, and now with free child safety seats available, there is no reason to not have your child riding in one. And it’s the law in Florida, so you don’t have a choice.