Ohio to become 44th state to enact a booster-seat law

COLUMBUS — State legislators have passed a law that requires federally approved booster seats for children 4 through 7 and those who are less than 4 feet 9 inches tall.

If Gov. Ted Strickland signs the bill, Ohio will be the 44th state to enact a booster-seat law.

The bill was changed from a primary to a secondary enforcement measure, meaning that law enforcement officers can only cite a motorist for a violation if they are pulled over for another reason.

From 2002 through 2007, Ohio motor vehicle crashes killed 89 children ages 4 to 8 and injured more that 21,000 in the same age group, according to the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

With passage of this law, Ohio can expect to see an increase in booster-seat usage and a subsequent decrease in fatalities and injuries, officials said.

Children 4 to 8 are too small to be protected adequately by the car’s seat-belt system, which is designed for an adult.

Booster seats help protect children from injury and death in crashes ensuring that the adult seat belt fits properly. Proper fit reduces the risk of “lap belt syndrome,” which occurs when the lap belt portion of the adult seat belt rides up into the child’s abdomen potentially causing internal injuries to vital organs.

More information is available at the Web site boostohiokids.org