National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics show over 90% of child safety seats in the United States are installed incorrectly.
When used correctly, child safety seats are 71% effective in reducing infant fatalities, 67% effective in reducing the need for hospitalization and 54% effective in reducing fatalities for children ages 1 to 4.
Kentucky Booster Seat Law Information (KRS 189.125(3)(b) –
Effective June 24, 2015
Booster seats provide an extra step between child safety seats and seatbelts.
Kentucky Booster Law states that
"Any driver of a motor vehicle, when transporting a child
under the age of eight (8) years who is between forty (40) inches and fifty-seven (57) inches in height in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, and highways of this state, shall have the child properly secured in a child booster seat. A child of any age
who is greater than fifty-seven (57) inches in height shall not be required to be secured in a child booster seat under this section. If a child is older than 8 years old or over 57 inches tall, they are not required by law to ride in a booster seat."
Best practice however would be to keep children under 57 inches riding in a booster until they meet the height requirement, regardless of age.
The bill requires law enforcement officers to issue citations with a $30 fine with no court costs. In addition, violators will have the option to purchase a booster seat instead of paying the fine.
Boosters are intended to lift the child up off the vehicle seat to improve the fit of the adult lap and shoulder seatbelt.
The lap portion of the belt should fit low on the hips or high on the thighs and the shoulder portion of the belt should be snug across the collarbone.
An improper fit of the adult safety belt can cause the lap belt to ride up over the stomach and the shoulder belt to cut across the neck, potentially exposing the child to serious abdominal or neck injury.
According to Partners for Child Passenger Safety, more than 90% of 4 to 8-year-old children who were seriously injured in a crash were not restrained in a booster seat.
Click link below for the Kentucky Child Passengers Safety Technicians and Instructors by County Map
