Children under 12 are more likely to die in automobile accidents in Georgia than any other age group.
As a result of car accidents, 608 children under the age of 12 died in 2019, according to the CDC. Ninety-one thousand children were injured in the same year. Almost three out of four children who died in car accidents under 12 were not wearing seatbelts.
Children under the age of six who are killed or injured in auto accidents are typically not securely fastened, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
An Atlanta auto accident attorney would be a good idea if you or a loved one were involved in an accident recently, whether you were at fault or not.
Car Seats: What You Should Know
According to the CDC, the risk of severe and fatal injuries is much lower when kids are secured in booster and car seats that are correctly installed and sized. When children are secured in car seats instead of only using seat belts to restrain them, the chance of injury from a car collision decreases by 71–82%.
According to NHTSA statistics, correctly utilized car seats save 325 accidents involving children under the age of five per year. A booster or car seat that has been properly installed and adequately retrained is more likely to protect children than one that hasn’t been properly installed.
Georgia Car Seat Laws
The state government of Georgia has approved regulations governing the usage of car seats because it recognizes the crucial function they serve in ensuring the safety of children. To safeguard yourself and your kids, getting familiar with these laws is essential.
Babies and Young Children
Regardless of their weight, infants under one year should be buckled into a rear-facing baby car seat.
Young children between the ages of one and three
Georgia law mandates that, based on their weight, children weighing between one and three years old shall ride in one of the following seats:
- Under 20 pounds: in a backward-facing car seat
- In a back- or forward-facing car seat, between 20 and 40 pounds.
Even if a child can utilize a forward-facing seat, it is generally advised that they do so for the greatest amount of time possible for safety and protection.
Penalties for breaking car seat regulations
Georgia has strict car seat regulations, and breaking them can cost you up to $50 in fines and one driving point per unrestrained child. The punishment and points might be doubled for subsequent offenses.