New Study Shows Booster Seat Usage Save Lives

Nov. 8, 2012

When experts began to notice that the leading cause of death for children was car accidents, lawmakers quickly enacted laws intended to better protect young people in cars. Now, according to an article from Reuters, a new study shows that states with laws requiring children to use booster and safety seats have seen significant decreases in the number of children injured or killed in car accidents.

Most states have long had laws requiring infants and toddlers to be secured in safety seats. But it was not until the past two decades that states began requiring older children, ages 6 to 12, to ride in booster seats as well. The study examined the number of fatal car accidents involving children from 1999-2009 and found states with laws requiring children to use booster seats had an 11 percent lower auto accident mortality rate than states without the laws in place.

Furthermore, the largest contrast in the number of fatalities over that period of time was in older children between the ages of six and seven. In states requiring older children to ride in booster seats, mortality rates among this age group were as much as 25 percent lower than in states without regulations in place.

The Buffalo Car Accident Attorneys with William Mattar Law Offices are hopeful booster seat usage will  help reduce the number of Buffalo car accident injuries involving children.