Child Car Accident Injuries Drop After NY Booster Seat Law Put Into Effect

Child injuries from car accidents in New York have dropped dramatically since the NY booster seat law was implemented in 2007 according to a recent study reported in the journal Pediatrics.

The New York booster seat law of 2007 requires that children be in a booster seat between the ages of 4 and 6 years of age to help reduce car accident injuries.  Using a booster seat for children of this age helps "boost" the child up so that they are properly positioned in the seat ensuring that the shoulder belt rests in the proper spot on their shoulder and the lap belt goes across the correct area of their hips. 

The study done shows that car accident injuries in children in New York decreased by 18% since the law was implemented. Specifically, the study showed a decrease in child traffic injury rates from 29 in every 10,000 children to 25 in every 10,000 children.

Last year New York revised the booster seat law to include 7 year old children as well making it illegal for a child under the age of 8 years old to ride in a car without a child safety seat.

For more information on child safety seats in New York download our free report on child car seat and booster seat safety "Child Safety Seats: A Guide for Families".