At Casey & Devoti, we are committed to keeping our family, friends and clients safe. As a follow-up to our previous article on child car seat safety, we are pleased to pass along this car booster seat rating guide.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), just released its list of BEST BET booster seats for 2014. The IIHS notes there are 41 new models this year, with 27 earning a BEST BET rating, 3 earning a GOOD BET rating, 8 earning a CHECK FIT rating, and 3 that are not recommended.
To view the complete 2014 IIHS Booster Seat Rating Guide, click here.
It is important to note that children should stay in a harness-equipped child restraint in the back seat as long as possible, up to the height and weight limits of the seat as recommended by the seat manufacturer. Parents can find this information on the child seat label and in the instruction manual. When children outgrow child restraints, they should use boosters until adult belts fit properly. For some children, that’s not until about age 12.
Children ages 4-8 in boosters are 45 percent less likely to sustain injuries in crashes than kids restrained by belts alone. Children who are using improperly fitted belts are at risk of a host of crash injuries known as “seat belt syndrome.” These include spine injuries and internal organ injuries. Boosters help by elevating a child into position and guiding the belts for better protection.
It is also important to know and understand the Missouri Child Passenger Restraint Law:
1. LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD – This act requires children less than four years old, regardless of weight, to use an appropriate child passenger restraint system.
2. LESS THAN 40 POUNDS – The act requires children weighing less than 40 pounds, regardless of age, to be secured in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for the child.
3. LESS THAN 8 YEARS OLD/80 POUNDS OR UNDER 4’9″ – Children (ages 4-7) and who weigh at least 40 pounds but less than 80 pounds, and are less than 4’9″ tall must be secured in a child passenger restraint system or booster seat appropriate for that child.
4. GREATER THAN 80 POUNDS OR TALLER THAN 4’9″ – Children who are at least 80 pounds or children taller than 4’9″ shall be secured by a vehicle safety belt or booster seat appropriate for that child.
