Ohio Car Seat Laws
We always want the best for our children, and that includes keeping them safe while driving. But with so many options for car seats and booster seats, how can we be sure that our kids are using the right models to both keep them safe and comply with the law?
Understanding car seat laws in Ohio can help ensure that you comply with the requirements and avoid a citation if you’re pulled over. And more importantly, knowing the state recommendations for child safety can help you better protect your little one.
What Are the Car Seat Laws in Ohio?
Ohio law requires all children under 4 years old or weighing under 40 pounds to ride in a properly secured car seat that meets safety standards set by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHSTA).
The NHSTA further breaks down different car seat requirements based on the child’s size and age. No matter how large they are, children 1-year-old and younger should ride in the back seat, in a rear-facing car seat. After turning 1, the child may change to a forward-facing car seat, although the NHSTA recommends that children 1 to 3 years old remain in rear-facing child seats until they reach the seat’s height and weight limits.
After a child turns 4, they may transition into a booster seat and be covered by Ohio booster seat laws.
What Are Booster Seat Laws in Ohio?
When it comes to booster seat requirements, Ohio law mandates the child remain in a booster seat until they reach age 8, or they are 4’9” tall. At this point, they are eligible to use a “real” seat belt instead of the belts attached to the booster seat.
As a parent, you may choose to keep your child in a booster seat after they turn 8 if they are still under 4’9”. Failure to adhere to Ohio car seat laws can result in a fine of up to $75.
Rear-Facing vs. Front-Facing Seats
Rear-facing child seats are intended to protect children in a car wreck. The seat design protects an infant’s delicate spine (it’s not fully developed from cartilage to bone) in transit. The rear-facing seat absorbs much of the force from a crash impact. The back of the seat is designed to take the brunt of the impact and protect the infant.
Front-facing seats are constructed differently, providing different support, like protection on the side of the head, for larger children.
Car Seat Recommendations to Keep Your Child Safe
A car seat is only as effective as its position in the car. Your local fire station can help you properly install a car seat if you don’t know how.
Newer car seat models buckle into the car using the car’s seat belt and have “anchors” with more straps that firmly keep the seat in position. How you buckle your child’s car seat belts also matters. Car seats with a five-point harness should be buckled on the child as indicated by the diagrams in the user manual, with the straps adjusted as the child grows to ensure continued protection.
Contact an Ohio Car Accident Attorney for Help
Do you need help pursuing justice after your child has been injured in a car accident caused by someone else? Contact our auto accident attorneys in Akron today for a free consultation about your claim.
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At Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law, we only represent consumers. We fight for regular people who have been seriously hurt in accidents. We fight for people who are being crushed by overwhelming debt and need a fresh start. We fight for individuals and families. Never businesses. Never insurance companies. We are loyal to the consumer.
