Child car safety seats are an important invention which have saved thousands of lives since their adoption in the 1970’s. Over the years, there have been numerous efforts to improve the safety of these seats, resulting in countless design iterations and laws dictating how they are best used.
The most recent advancement in child car seat legislation is set to take effect starting April 2, 2025. Here are the ways in which the law surrounding child car seats is changing this April and how you can accommodate your own child passengers.
The Dangers of a Bad Fitting Seat
According to a recent statement released by the Michigan State Police, vehicle crashes are the #1 cause of death for young children. However, making sure your child is properly restrained in a car seat can reduce their risk of death by up to 50%!
Given the significant role a good fitting car seat plays in keeping your child safe on the road, a new law will take effect April 2nd, in an effort to get more children riding in properly fitting car seats.
The New Law
Michigan’s new child car seat law features 4 different car seat requirements based on the age and height of the child riding with you:
- Infant to two years: A child must be in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer or the child is 2 years old.
- Two to five years: The child can then move into a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer or the child is 5 years old.
- Five to eight years: The child can then move to a belt-positioning booster seat using a lap and shoulder belt until they are 4’ 9” or 8 years old.
- All children under thirteen years: Children under the age of 13 must ride in the rear seat of a vehicle, if the vehicle has one available.
Violations of these guidelines put your child’s safety at risk, as well as your hard-earned money, with fines starting at $65.
In addition to the guidelines above, the new law also requires:
- Children younger than age 4 to ride in a car seat in the rear seat (if the vehicle has a rear seat). If all available rear seats are occupied by children under 4, then a child under 4 may ride in a car seat in the front seat. A child in a rear-facing car seat may only ride in the front seat if the airbag is turned off.
- Children must be properly buckled in a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4-feet-9-inches tall. Children must ride in a seat until they reach the age requirement or the height requirement, whichever comes first.
Get David Get Paid
Safety is critically important when you get behind the wheel, especially for the passengers who are along for the ride.
Making sure your child is properly restrained in a car seat (in accordance with the new guidelines) could be the difference between your child surviving a tragic accident or not.
If you or a loved one—especially a child—was injured in an auto accident, do not hesitate in reaching out to David Femminineo today. David and his team at Femminineo Law are dedicated, compassionate, and ready to help you right now.
Rest assured that if David is on your case, you will get the compensation you deserve. Call us today at 855-65CRASH or visit our website at getdavidgetpaid.com.
