Senator Keith Perry (R- Gainesville) received unanimous support in the Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee today for legislation which would extend the age that children are required to ride in booster seats through the age of six-years-old.
“Seat belts are not designed for children, and extending the protection of booster seats is a common sense safety measure that will help protect Florida’s most vulnerable passengers,” Senator Perry said. “I look forward to working with Representative Beltran on this transformative piece of legislation that aims to protect children from serious injury and save countless lives.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that children remain in booster seats until a seat belt can be worn properly, which occurs when an individual reaches 57 inches, the average height of eight-year-olds. SB 158 would extend the age that children are required to ride in a booster seats from the age of five to though the age of six.
Karen Morgan, AAA: “Seat belts are designed for adults and do not typically fit children until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall. Graduating a child from a booster seat too soon may result in injury, or even death, in the event of a crash. This legislation will protect children traveling on Florida roadways.”
The Junior Leagues of Florida Chair Samantha Sexton: “The Junior Leagues of Florida State Public Affairs Committee (FLSPAC) is proud to support SB 158, proposed by Senator Perry. When passed, child restraint safety standards in the state of Florida will more closely align with national best practices. Using a booster seat to elevate children in motor vehicles ensures that the seat belt will fit properly and function as designed to protect children from serious injury during transport.”
For more information on Senator Keith Perry, visit FLSenate.gov.
