Friday, July 3, 2015

New AZ Car Seat Law Goes Into Effect TODAY, Aug. 2 New AZ Car Seat Law Goes Into Effect TODAY, Arizona

Are you ready parents? More importantly, are those kids who have been car seat FREE going to be ready to be back in seats starting Aug. 2?
The new car seat law in Arizona, effective Aug. 2, is changing. It will require children ages 5 - 7 and shorter than 4'10" tall to ride in a vehicle in a booster seat. This new law has extended the amount of time a child must be restrained by three years than the previous law.
The new law is aimed to reduce the amount of fatalities among children in our state. It is scary to think about, but the reality is that in Arizona, seven out of nine nine children between ages 5 and 7 who died in a vehicle crash in 2009 were not properly restrained in a booster seat, according to Arizona Department of Health Services.
Here are some important tips about car seats tha parents need to know about:
(The following are required by Arizona State Law)
1. All people riding in the front seat MUST wear a seatbelt regardless of age.
2. All children under the age of 5 years MUST be in a child restraint (car seat).
3. Infants from birth until 1 year old AND less than 20 pounds MUST be positioned in a reclining infant car seat facing backwards.
4. Toddlers from 1 to 5 years AND 20 to 40 pounds MUST be positioned in an upright toddler car seat facing forwards or backwards.
(The following are recommended, but not required by Arizona State Law)
5. Infants are safest in the car when facing backwards for as long as possible. Your child can safely face backwards as long as his/her head is 1 inch below the top of the car seat and there is room for his/her legs.
6. Move your child to a larger car seat before they reach the maximum weight limit. Testing reveals that the mounting clamps can fail in an accident when the child nears the weight limit. If your child reaches the weight maximum for the infant car seat before age 1, he/she must continue to face backwards in the bigger toddler seat at least until after the first birthday.
7. Children from 40-80 lbs. and under 4’9” should be in a booster seat. Automobile accidents are the #1 cause of death among 5 to 8 year olds. They also have a 58% greater risk of injury if they are only wearing a seat belt compared to a booster seat.
8. All children under the age of 13 should ride in the back seat. Never place a rear facing car seat in the front seat if the air bag is activated. Severe injury or death can result.
9. Never reuse a car seat after an accident. Car seats should be replaced every 3-5 years since the Arizona sun destroys the plastic. Never buy or borrow a used car seat for your child unless you are sure of the seat’s history and age.
10. Never drive anywhere for any distance with unrestrained passengers. Never allow children to unbuckle their belts - even for a moment. Never drive with children in the back of a pickup truck.

 

http://nscottsdale.macaronikid.com/article/331987/new-az-car-seat-law-goes-into-effect-today-aug-2

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