The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched Child Passenger Safety Week to help reduce the number of children who are killed in car accidents every year. This week-long campaign takes place from Sept. 23rd - 29th and provides essential information to parents, guardians, and anyone with a child in the car about the importance of child passenger safety.
Deaths Among Children in Vehicles
The leading cause of death for children under the age of 15 are vehicle accidents and collisions. To make matters worse, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released a study claiming that about 43% of children who die from an automobile accident are improperly restrained. Our team of personal injury lawyers want all children in MO and KS to be properly restrained every time they ride in a car.
Kansas Child Passenger Safety
The Child Passenger Safety Act (KSA 8-1343) covers the specific child passenger safety requirements for drivers in Kansas with respect to the age, height, and weight of the child.
- Children under 1 should ride in a certified child rear-facing car seat.
- Children ages 1, 2 & 3 should ride in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible or until they reach the maximum height or weight limit allowed by the manufacturer.
- A booster seat is required for children ages 4, 5, 6, & 7 unless they weigh more than 80 lbs., or are taller than 4 ft. 9 in. or if only a lap belt is available.
Some areas in Kansas offer free child/booster seat fitting stations. Parents and guardians can visit them to find out if their vehicle has the proper child safety restraints for a child.
This PDF on the Kansas Department of Transportation covers proper child seat safety in more detail: http://www.ksdot.org/burTrafficSaf/brochures/pdf/itsthelawprimarymay2010.pdf
Missouri Child Passenger Safety
The Missouri Child Restraint Law (RSMo 307.179) covers the specific child passenger safety requirements for drivers in Missouri with respect to the age, height and weight of the child.
- Children under 1 or under 20 lbs. should stay in rear-facing safety seat
- Children under the age of 4 or weighing under 40 pounds require proper child passenger restraint system
- Children ages 4 through 7 who weigh over 40 lbs. must be in a child passenger restraint system or a booster seat until they weigh over 80 lbs. or are taller than 4 ft. 9 in.
- Children 8 years and older, children over 80 lbs., or more than 4ft 9 in may ride with only a fastened seatbelt.
Some areas in Missouri also offer free child/booster seat fitting stations. Call (888) 275-6636 to find a location to check that your car seat is installed properly. Visit http://www.modot.org/booster-seats for more information on child passenger safety in Missouri.
Parents and guardians can visit the NHTSA website for a complete guide on child passenger safety options, laws and recommendations based on a child’s age, weight, and height: http://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats. You may also want to register your booster seat or child seat with the manufacturer or on safercar.gov.
Check out our social media channels and our next blog as we continue to spread awareness for National Child Passenger Safety Week.
If you or a loved one have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve an attorney that will fight for the compensation you deserve to cover your medical bills, pain, financial loss, and other damages. You may only need an attorney once in your life, and if you do, we are here, right here, fighting for you.
Call Castle Law Office at 816-842-7100 or you can click here to email us.
