A new law was signed on Friday and will go into effect in January 1, 2019 that requires all children must ride rear facing in a car seat until the age of 2.
It is well documented that the safest position for a young child to ride is in a rear facing car seat. The design of a car seat provides better protection to an infant and toddler while rear facing. In a collision the child will ride back into the seat and be enveloped in the protection of the seat. The plastic body of the seat will provide head, neck and back stability greatly reducing the risk of a spinal or head injury. When the child is forward facing they are protected by the 5 point harness. This allows the child to jolt forward in a collision exposing the head and neck to injury. Children under two years of age are still developing head and neck muscles and need the extra protection in an accident. The actual language of the law states " When any person is transporting a child in this state who is under the age of two years in a motor vehicle of the first division or a motor vehicle of the second division weighing 9,000 pounds or less, he or she shall be responsible for properly securing the child in a rear facing child restraint system unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall." Public Act 100-0672
Please contact the Fire Department if you need assistance in properly installing your car seat at 708-748-5605.