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Home > Blogs > Lakota Schools News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > May > 01 > Entry
Would this bill keep your child safe?
A bill announced Thursday by State Representative Shannon Jones of Springboro would require the use of booster seats for children ages 4 to 8. I am not a parent, but I am curious to hear what parents think of this new rule. When I was in that age range, I would probably have pitched a fit if I was required to sit in a booster seat, but then I always enjoyed a good debate. My mother swears that when I was 2, I rallied my siblings to insist there would be no more naps in our household.
Jones said the Ohio House of Representatives has voted to approve House Bill 320, legislation she sponsored that requires the use of booster seats for young children.
“Using adult seats belts to restrain children in vehicles results in thousands of injuries each year - injuries that could easily be prevented,” Jones stated in a press release. “This legislation will ensure children are restrained using an age-appropriate device and will help keep children safe while riding in a motor vehicle.”
Under House Bill 320, children between the ages of 4 and 8 or under 4’9” in height would be required to be secured in a booster seat while riding in a motor vehicle. Booster seats raise a child up so the seat belt fits properly and offers better protection, the release stated. Legislation requiring the use of booster seats by young children has already been enacted in 42 states and the District of Columbia.
The seat belts in cars are designed to fit adults, and a study by the Partners for Child Passenger Safety found that young children restrained by an adult seat belt are 3.5 times more likely to suffer serious injury in the event of an accident than those in an age-appropriate restraint system.
According to the American Medical Association, booster seats reduce neck, spine and abdominal injuries by 59 percent. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center estimates 176 Ohio child deaths and 18,000 injuries could have been prevented through the use of booster seats.
House Bill 320 was overwhelmingly approved with strong bipartisan support. The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
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