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Ohio Booster Seat Coalition  |
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AAA supports new legislation to require booster seats for 4-8 year-oldsCoalition is forming at www.boostohiokids.orgContact: Bevi Powell, Director of Communications, 216.606.6712 Independence, Sept. 18 — AAA East Central today announced its support for proposed legislation that would require parents to safely restrain their 4-8 year-olds under 4-feet, 9-inches tall in a federally approved booster seat while riding in a motor vehicle. Introduced today in her home district by Rep. Shannon Jones (R-Springboro) House Bill 320 is now the second such bill being considered by the Ohio General Assembly, Senate Bill 27, which is very similar, is sponsored by Sen. Erich Kearney (D-Cincinnati). Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children with over 2,000 children 14 years and younger dying and nearly 300,000 injured each year. Child booster seats are designed for children 4-8 years old and are a known lifesaver when properly used with lap shoulder belts. However, over 60 percent of parents and caregivers still do not use booster seats. “The best protection for children in the 4 to 8 year-old range is to place the child in the rear with a belt-positioning booster seat,” said Brian Newbacher, director of public affairs, AAA East Central. “Booster seats help protect children from injury and death in crashes by ensuring that the adult seat belt fits properly. Proper fit reduces the risk of “lap belt syndrome,” which occurs when the lap belt portion of the adult seat belt rides up into a child’s abdomen, potentially causing internal injuries to the liver and spleen,” Newbacher added. The effectiveness of booster seats in protecting children from serious crash-related injuries is well documented, according to AAA. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (Dr.’s Durbin, Winston) reported that booster seats reduced the odds of sustaining significant injuries in a crash by 59 percent of children ages 4-7 in 15 states studied. Booster seats were especially effective in reducing injuries to the abdomen, neck, spine, back, and lower extremities. NHTSA-sponsored research shows that booster seat use rates are very low. A 2002 study of booster seat use in 6 states found:
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, research about the importance of an educational component increasing booster seat usage has significant implications for state policymakers. AAA says it’s crucial to pass booster seat legislation and connect it with educational and outreach components such as car seat clinics. “Parents often look to state laws for guidance in traffic safety issues,” said Newbacher. “Since the launch of AAA’s child passenger safety initiative in 2002, AAA has led the effort to pass booster seat laws in 38 states and D.C., however; only 20 of those states include an educational component in their law.” As part of the newly formed “Boost Ohio Kids” Coalition, AAA is working with Ohio Children’s Hospitals, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to help gain passage of a booster seat requirement. Citizens interested in getting involved or to learn more about the need for booster seats are encouraged to visit www.boostohiokids.org for more information. Thus far, coalition members include the Ohio Conference of AAA Clubs, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, Toledo Children’s Hospital, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Safe Kids Greater Cleveland, Safe Kids Central Ohio, Public Children Services Association of Ohio and the Police Officer’s Safety Council of Summit County. As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 50-million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. AAA, founded in 1902, is a not-for-profit, fully tax-paying organization and is a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. |
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