How do you guys feel about the booster seat laws being put in place?

[Quail_Antwerp]

Quote:
AH, but it's only the parents wou would put them in their boosters anyway who are following the law!

I understand what seatbelts are for, but I do believe it should be OUR choice as to if we use them or not. It should be OUR choice if we use carseats or boosters.

We have a constitutional right to life (and to live it as we as individuals see fit, NOT how Joe Smoe down the road tells us we should live it), to own property (a car is property), and the pursuit of happiness. The goverment has NO right to interfere with any of it.

As for infant seats and seatbelts saving lives, not always. I can give you two examples right off.

1) My 10 yr old sister's pediatrician had a 16 year old daughter. The 16 yo was driving her grandmother to the store or somewhere. It was winter time, and in the town they were in they had to drive pass the river. She hit black ice, slid into the river. Granddaughter did get out of her seatbelt, but grandmother was trapped in hers in the back seat. Instead of leaving her grandmother, the girl crawled into the back seat, trying to free her grandmother. Both drowned.

2) About 2 Christmas ago a family of 7 was coming home from visiting family for the holidays. Family included a mom, dad, and 5 children, with the youngest being an 8 week old infant. Everyone was properly strapped in, and the baby was in a carseat. They were hit head on by a drunk driver. Their van literally split apart, and the 8 week old baby was catapulted car seat and all from the vehicle. Only the dad and one of the older children survived.

I believe, no matter what the statistics say, that there is always a 50/50 chance you're going to be injured or killed in a car whether you wear a seat belt or not or use a car seat or not.

It should be a personal choice, not government mandated. Honestly, everytime I leave in my car and make it home safely, I am thankful!

*we are a seatbelt and carseat using family, so I am not against buckling up, I'm just against the goverment telling us it's mandatory.

edited to remove comments that were found offensive.

 

[okiron]

Well I was just introduced to Graco's MyRide 65 convertible carseat so I will be rear facing till my DS is 40lbs!

I am quite thankful that DH and my wish has been granted.

 

[sangel4you]

Let me say once again, that I am a seatbelt person. I dont feel comfortable without it and I know they save lives. I also believe carseats work. However that being said, I too feel the government needs to really think about the ages/heights/weight they are making these laws. As I've said in my state it's 8 yrs old...that's a bit extreme to me. As far as I see it, I wear my seat belt all the time, however, if I were to be in a serious accident, I would probably be decapitated as the seat belt sits across my neck. So basically the govnt is going to MAKE me be sure my child sits properly in the seat belt but as an adult I dont matter? This makes me irate because as much as I love and want to protect my children, I want to be around to watch them grow up too! So my problem is 1- with the govnt not being consistent with laws like this that they mandate, and 2- you'd think by now rather than making a child be in a car seat until they're flipping 9 years old, they'd start recontructing their seatbelt set-ups and heights. There are A LOT of short ppl and small kids out there. And Saddina, I am sorry for your loss, and I understand what your saying, but my point about having three carseats was, there's no way in hell I am going to be "forced" into purchasing a new vehicle for two spare inches for another car seat for one or two years until my oldest is 8! I like my car, and I cant afford to buy a new vehicle just because the state feels DS who is a lightweight (but he is atall for his age) should still be in a car seat until he's 8 or 80lb! MY state doesnt have a HEIGHT requirement...so this...is my point. (and btw, I have a large luxery sedan and I still cannot fit three car seats so it's not like I have a mini car and am saying this. Literally I am not upgrading to and SUV for 2 flipping inches)

 

[rooster0209]

If the laws are going to force you to wear a seatbelt and force you to put your child in a booster seat or wear a seatbelt and in ND all passengers must also have seatbelt on; its now a primary offense..........................then............. motorcycle drivers/riders should have to wear helmets.

 

[AHappychick]

you know I am surprised at this thread. these ages and heights are not arbitrary.

Take a trip to your local hospital and meet some of the parents with badly injured, brain damaged or dead children and ask them if this law makes Sence.

If I am told that my 3 year old son is safer in a booster till he is 15 years old I will follow it cause it only takes one drunk or bad driver to wipe out everything you care about.

If having to many children to fit in car seats is a problem then buy a bus, but having a huge family is no excuse for not keeping them as safe as having a small family.

Yes there was never a surge of deaths before the changes but how many injured or hurt children were there? Also our cars were a lot stronger back in the day when they were actually made of steal and everyone was not driving SUV's

Just my 2 cents, but I was happy to hold off of buying eggs a few months ago (that were expensive) cause I needed to buy the new booster and replace my car seat.


Oh and edited to add if an adult over 21 wants to ride a bike with no helmet or rive in a car with no seat belt that is their choice, pay the fine, or whatever. But a CHILD counts on you to make the safe choice and deserves the best!

 

[Crusty McPottydoodle]

The law here is 8 or 80 lbs (which ever comes first). My daughter is 10 and 70lbs. She still uses her booster seat entirely without complaint and will continue to do so until she is 80lbs.
Cheryl

 

[jojomojo]

Quote:
Do you mean for the infant seats & when to go from rear to forward facing?

All of them regarding children.

I'm not sure about booster requirements in CA, but for the rear to forward switch, it is 'and'. It may not even have to be law because it is also the manufacturer's instructions for safely turning a child around.

 

[jojomojo]

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There are a few carseat options that might work to fit three across. Check out the Sunshine Kids Radian 80 - it is very narrow. You might also be able to get specific suggestions for your car in a carseat forum.

 

[scbatz33]

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My Dh gets irritated with this irony. When ever he sees a motorcyclist without helmet driving down the road he says, "but I have to wear a seat belt or get ticketed, right?"

It's the government trying to regulate every aspect of our lives - as if we aren't SMART enough to make such basic decisions for ourselves. The joke of it all is, no matter how many laws they enact "for our safety", the people who they are trying to legislate into "behaving" are NEVER going to abide by the laws. You can't make people behave morally or logically or force them to use common sense by passing laws.

"You can't fix stupid" - Ron White

 

[scbatz33]

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My dad would have been killed in 87 if he had had his blet on. He was T-boned by a tractor trailer while driving a work van. The truck hit him right behind the driver seat forcing the seat under the steering wheel. The officer said if he had had the belt on the impact would have cut him in two. As it was, he was shoved under the steering wheel and only broke some ribs and had major bruising.

I personally don't wear my belt - unless DH makes a stink. I am fairly short and have a very large chest which causes the belt to ride up to my neck no matter how low I set the adjusters or where I position the seat. I basically am strangled by the seat belt in any position. When DH is driving I literally hold the belt down to keep from being "choked". If I were in an accident, I'd bet money I'd be decapitated!