A Democratic House member has again filed a bill that would require a restraining seat for many children up to age 7, most of whom currently are allowed to ride in a car unrestrained, despite studies showing seat belts don’t adequately protect most of them.
The issue is a top priority for federal highway safety officials, who have singled out Florida as being one of the few states that doesn’t require booster seats for children over age 4.
Current state law requires car seats for children under 4, and seat belts for everyone else. But the National Transportation Safety Board has for several years pushed for states to require that children under 7 also be required to sit in a booster seat that makes the seat belt actually work better for children that size, unless the child is 4’9″ or taller.
Florida is one of only three states without such a requirement.
Rep. Richard Steinberg, D-Miami Beach, who was unsuccessful in trying to change that last year, on Monday again filed a bill (HB 151) that would require the booster seats. An identical bill (SB 196) was filed earlier this month in the Senate by Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viera.
Take care of your life by buckling your seat belt