Car crashes are a major cause of death among kids aged 3 to 14 in the U.S. According to the CDC, about 700 children died in car crashes in 2016, while 128,000 sustained injuries.
Studies suggest that using a car seat can dramatically reduce a child’s risk of injury and death. For this reason, Georgia and several other states have enacted obligatory car seat legislation.
So, it is crucial to observe these laws if you reside in Georgia and drive about with kids in your car. This post will discuss everything you need about Georgia car seat laws. Read on to learn more.
Breaking Down Georgia’s Car Seat Requirements
So, what do Georgia state laws on car seats say? There are two main requirements.
Children Under Eight and Shorter than 57′ Must Use the Back Seat
A vehicle’s back seat is the safest place for kids to sit. How so?
In modern cars, the front passenger seat has lap and shoulder belts and airbags. Although they are essential safety measures for grownups, they pose a significant risk for kids.
Airbags and seatbelts are made with the protection of healthy adults in mind. Children who ride in the front passenger seat risk significant airbag or seatbelt injuries.
Younger children can even suffocate and die when airbags deploy. For this reason, Georgia car seat laws require that kids under eight years old and also under 57 inches in height use the back passenger seat.
There is an exception to this law. A child can ride in the front passenger seat if a car has no back seat. But they should be 40 pounds or more and buckled up in a booster or car seat.
Georgia’s legislation only applies to children up to the age of eight. But to be safe, keep kids in your back car seat until they are 12 to 13 years old.
Children Under 8 Should Use a Child Restraint System
A child below eight years must be buckled up in an authorized child restraint system suited for their age, height, and weight.
Rear-facing seat
If possible, keep children facing the rear side. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that children remain in the rear-facing position for at least two years.
But it would be best to keep them rear-facing till they attain the maximum weight and height requirements for that posture. Georgia law requires you to keep children rear-facing till they are a year old.
Front-facing seat
Georgia car seat laws allow children to ride in front-facing seats if they are 12 months old and weigh more than 21 pounds. If a kid is 12 months old but weighs below 21 pounds, they must remain in the rear-facing position.
Additionally, it is advisable to wait until the kid attains the set rear-facing height and weight limits, as indicated by the seat’s manufacturer, before switching from rear-facing to front-facing.
Booster seat
Georgia law allows a child to switch from a front-facing to a booster seat if they weigh more than 40 pounds. Georgia car seat laws specifically state that:
- Kids aged between one and seven can use booster seats with shoulder and lap belts
- Children aged between eight and eighteen with a height below 4’9 must use booster seats with shoulder and lap belts.
Even while Georgia allows kids to switch to booster seats at a tender age, it would be best to hold off until they attain front-facing car seats’ height and weight limits.
Seat belt only
A child does not have to use the restraint system once they turn eight and are at least 4 feet 9 inches. Instead, they should use a seat belt.
It is, however, preferable to have them in a booster seat till their feet can touch the ground without drooping when seated.
Ensure the seatbelt lies over the child’s lap and sternum, not their neck or belly. Check out the ‘five-step harness‘ to learn more.
Another notable thing is that the vehicle’s driver, not just the parent, provides a restraint system and ensures the kids are properly buckled in their seats.
Georgia Cautions Against Gross Misuse of Car Seats
Safety is paramount when it comes to kids. Children are safer when properly strapped in a restraint system. It is thus critical to buy an age-appropriate seat for your child and ensure it is fitted well.
The state of Georgia explicitly outlaws the following uses of car seats which are classified as “gross misuse”:
- Failure to use LATCH accessories or the safety belt to secure the child restraint system to the car.
- Failure to fasten the child in a car seat using a five-point harness or a different kind of harness system.
- Forward-facing a kid aged less than 12 months, and
- Placing a rear-facing kid in the front car seat.
These mistakes drastically lower the efficacy of the child car seat. Even if these are the most heinous, other mistakes might endanger children. Related car seat errors include the following:
Loose seats
Vehicle seats are tight and stable when appropriately fitted. A car seat will not offer a child much-needed protection if it can move freely.
But how do you know whether a seat is securely tight? Try moving the seat from where it is fastened to the car using your non-dominant hand. If it moves, then it is loose.
Misaligned and loose harness
A harness can only function if it is properly secured. That means it should be properly aligned and fit tightly. The harness on the crotch area should not be loose.
Fasten the chest clip at the armpit level. The harness should fit tightly on the shoulders. It is too loose if you can pinch it between two fingers.
Allowing a child to wear a coat
A harness performs well when holding tightly onto a child’s body. This is not possible if a child is wearing a heavy jacket.
Research shows that children wearing coats have a higher risk of injuries in a car accident. So, cover your child with a blanket or buy a jacket designed to accommodate a child’s car seat system.
Using a faulty or expired seat
Did you know car seats have a shelf life? The stuff used to make car seats wear over time. That reduces the effectiveness of the seat, jeopardizing your child’s safety.
Using a broken car seat or being involved in a car accident is unsafe, even if Georgia allows it. When a car seat endures excessive trauma, its reliability is compromised.
Regrettably, car seat misuse is a widespread problem. According to the CDC, 20% of booster seats and 59% of car seats are being “used in a manner that might diminish their efficacy.
Why Are Car Seats So Vital?
According to research, children in an age-appropriate restraint system are unlikely to sustain severe injuries in a motor vehicle accident. Below are key statistical findings:
- A kid is 71-82% less likely to suffer injuries if they are securely buckled in a suitable car seat instead of simply fastening a seatbelt.
- A child aged four to eight who uses a booster seat and a seatbelt, as opposed to a seatbelt only, is 45% less likely to sustain injuries.
- The risk of dying or suffering severe injuries in an auto crash reduces by 75% for a child under four years if they are in rear-facing car seats instead of forward-facing ones.
- Proper car seat use can lower an infant’s risk of dying by 70%.
- Proper car seat use can lower fatality risk by 54% in children aged one to four.
Unfortunately, over 618,000 kids ride in cars annually without the proper safety seat. It’s estimated that about 40% of the children are also unfastened.
Penalties for Violating Georgia Car Seat Laws
Police officers could pull you over for failing to comply with the kid safety restraint requirement even if you had no other traffic infraction. The court can impose a $50 fine for a first violation.
The judge may waive the $50 fee if you buy a child safety restraint before your hearing date. The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) will add one point to your driving record for a first offense.
The penalty increases to $100 for the subsequent offenses. DDS will start deducting two points from your driving record after the second offense.
Speak to a Georgia Car Accident Attorney Today!
Car seats considerably lower a child’s risk of injury and death. But your children can still suffer injuries if your car is involved in a collision.
If another party was at fault for the collision, you do not have to cover the cost of a replacement car seat out of pocket. You may qualify for compensation from the at-fault party’s insurer.
Legal Giant is here to help you know your legal options. We can connect you to our partner car accident attorneys in Georgia to review your case and advise you on what to do.
Contact us at (855) 740-5024 for a free, no-obligation consultation.
