Missoula County supports SB 150: Revise seatbelt regulations, up for hearing this afternoon in the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee. Thank you, Senator Sands, for sponsoring this bill. If passed, this bill would increase height and weight requirements for children needing to use a child restraint system (i.e., car seat, booster seat). Many booster seats are designed for children up to 100 lbs, and many states who have Child Passenger Safety laws match the proposed legislation of 8 years old, 57 inches (4’9”) and 65 lbs. By adopting these regulations, Montana would fall in line with many other states which would help eliminate confusion for parents and keep kids safer.
The Missoula City-County Health Department supports SB 150, with increased height and weight requirements for children needing to use a child restraint system (i.e., Car Seat/Booster seat). We have worked with Missoula County’s Buckle Up Montana Coalition and Drive Safe Missoula to understand the public health benefits of this legislation. If Montana were to adopt the requirements in SB 150, we would fall in line with a majority of other states. This change would eliminate confusion for parents and keep kids safer.
Most states have Child Passenger Safety laws that are in line with SB 150 or are even more protective than the proposed legislation. SB 150 would require that a child under 8 years old, 57 inches (4’9”), and 65 lbs. requires a child restraint system. Child Passenger Seat Technicians are taught to advise parents to keep children in a properly fitted and installed child passenger safety seat (i.e. Car Seat/Booster seat) until the child is: 1) Tall enough to sit without slouching Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 2) Able to keep his or her back against the vehicle’s seat 3) Able to keep their knees naturally bent over the edge of the seat and, 4) Able to keep their feet flat on the floor Additionally, the lap belt must fit snugly across the upper thighs and NOT the stomach. The shoulder belt must lie snug across the shoulder and chest and NOT cross the neck or face. Children should ride in the back seat until age 13. Booster seats lift the child’s body, so the car’s seat belt fits them properly and positions the seat belt over the stronger parts of their body. Many booster seats are designed for children up to 100 lbs. Studies have shown that car seats significantly lower the risk of serious injury in children. Children aged 4 to 8 who are properly restrained in belt-positioning booster seats were 45% less likely to be injured than children who were using the vehicle seat belt.
We thank you for this opportunity to comment on SB 150 and we urge you to vote ‘yes’ on this important legislation.
Senators Bennett and Sands,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County supports SB 150: Revise seatbelt regulations, up for hearing this afternoon in the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee. Thank you, Senator Sands, for sponsoring this bill. If passed, this bill would increase height and weight requirements for children needing to use a child restraint system (i.e., car seat, booster seat). Many booster seats are designed for children up to 100 lbs, and many states who have Child Passenger Safety laws match the proposed legislation of 8 years old, 57 inches (4’9”) and 65 lbs. By adopting these regulations, Montana would fall in line with many other states which would help eliminate confusion for parents and keep kids safer.
Please support SB 150.
Staff testimony sent Feb. 2:
ReplyDeleteThe Missoula City-County Health Department supports SB 150, with increased height and weight requirements
for children needing to use a child restraint system (i.e., Car Seat/Booster seat). We have worked with
Missoula County’s Buckle Up Montana Coalition and Drive Safe Missoula to understand the public health
benefits of this legislation.
If Montana were to adopt the requirements in SB 150, we would fall in line with a majority of other states.
This change would eliminate confusion for parents and keep kids safer.
Most states have Child Passenger Safety laws that are in line with SB 150 or are even
more protective than the proposed legislation. SB 150 would require that a child under 8 years old, 57 inches
(4’9”), and 65 lbs. requires a child restraint system.
Child Passenger Seat Technicians are taught to advise parents to keep children in a properly fitted and
installed child passenger safety seat (i.e. Car Seat/Booster seat) until the child is:
1) Tall enough to sit without slouching
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
2) Able to keep his or her back against the vehicle’s seat
3) Able to keep their knees naturally bent over the edge of the seat and,
4) Able to keep their feet flat on the floor
Additionally, the lap belt must fit snugly across the upper thighs and NOT the stomach. The shoulder belt must
lie snug across the shoulder and chest and NOT cross the neck or face. Children should ride in the back seat
until age 13.
Booster seats lift the child’s body, so the car’s seat belt fits them properly and positions the seat belt over the
stronger parts of their body. Many booster seats are designed for children up to 100 lbs.
Studies have shown that car seats significantly lower the risk of serious injury in children. Children aged 4 to 8
who are properly restrained in belt-positioning booster seats were 45% less likely to be injured than children
who were using the vehicle seat belt.
We thank you for this opportunity to comment on SB 150 and we urge you to vote ‘yes’ on this important
legislation.