Car safety doesn't end for children once they outgrow a child safety seat. In fact, a booster seat for older children can be a real lifesaver. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater says that though Americans are generally trying to keep infants secured while traveling in their vehicles, the same cannot be said for those aged 4 to 8 years old. The campaign coincides with National Child Passenger Safety Week. According to the Department of Transportation, most state laws only require a seat belt up to age 3 or 4.
Many parents then assume it's OK to restrain a child in an adult seat belt.
We don't know whether it will take a law or not. Buckling up a small child in a seat belt may look deceptively safe, but it could be a deadly error. When children are prematurely graduated to adult safety belts from child restraint systems, the lap portion of the belt rides up over the abdomen. Winston says she's also concerned that of those who are in seats or belts, only about half are properly restrained. It's not clear how many lives booster use might save, but Winston is currently looking for the answer in a study.