As a parent, the safety of your children is always a priority. This is especially true in potentially hazardous situations like car rides. Even if you’re a safe driver, you need to account for other drivers who may speed, break road rules, or drive distracted or drunk, putting you and your children at risk.
Missouri has no statutes regarding when children can move to the front seat, but the state recommends that children under the age of 13 ride in the back seat. What are the laws regarding the use of car seats and safety belts for children, and why are they so important?
Missouri Laws Regarding Child Safety Belts
National safety organizations like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offer recommendations for car seats and safety belts, but every state has its own laws. These rules and regulations are intended to protect children from harm in the event of rear-end crashes, head-on collisions, and other types of accidents.
Front- and Rear-Facing Car Seats
In Missouri, children under the age of four or less than 40 pounds are required to be secured in a suitable car seat.
According to the NHTSA, infants up to 12 months of age should always be in a rear-facing seat, and it’s recommended to continue using this type of seat as long as possible between ages one and three.
Following the height and weight recommendations for your car seat, you may upgrade to a front-facing car seat when your toddler outgrows the rear-facing model. Keep in mind that convertible and all-in-one seats may offer not only convenience as your child grows but also greater height/weight allowances.
Booster Seats
Missouri law states that children between the ages of four and seven weighing 40 to 80 pounds who are under 4′9″ tall must sit in a suitable car seat or booster seat.
The NHTSA recommends that children aged 4 to 7 remain in a front-facing car seat until they reach listed height and weight limits. Additionally, children aged 8 to 12 should remain in a booster seat until exceeding height and weight limits for that seat.
Seat Belt
In Missouri, children who weigh 80 pounds or more and are 4′9″ or taller may be seated in a suitable booster seat or secured by a safety belt alone.
The NHTSA recommends that children graduate from a booster seat to a seat belt alone only when they are big enough that the lap belt rests across the thighs, not the stomach, and the shoulder belt rests on the shoulders and chest.
Although there is no set law regarding when children may move to the front seat in Missouri, it is recommended that they remain in the back seat of the car until the age of 13.
Why Are Suitable Seats and Restraints So Important?
Each year, hundreds of children under the age of 13 die in car crashes — about a third are unrestrained, while others are inadequately restrained. Car seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury in car accidents for infants under 12 months old by over 70% and for toddlers between the ages of one and four by over 50%.
This is why it’s so important for parents and other caregivers to understand laws regarding car seats and safety belts. They need to be aware of height and weight limits for seats, and to learn how to properly install and use car seats.
When accidents do occur, you should always seek immediate medical attention, especially for children, and contact a qualified car accident attorney for legal assistance.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer at Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers Today
If you were injured in an accident due to someone else’s careless or negligent actions, contact an experienced St. Louis personal injury lawyer to discuss your case. Your attorney will fight for fair compensation, and they don’t get paid unless you win.
For more information, contact the attorneys at Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers we proudly serve all throughout Missouri, including St. Louis County, and we have offices in St. Louis, Chesterfield, Clayton, and Creve Coeur.
Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers – St. Louis Office
1010 Market Street, Suite 1605
St. Louis, Missouri
(636) 519-0085
Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers – Chesterfield Office
400 Chesterfield Center Suite 400
Chesterfield, MO 63017
(636) 999-9587
Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers – Creve Coeur Office
11628 Old Ballas Rd, Suite 320
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
(314) 557-2869
Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers – Clayton Office
7733 Forsyth Blvd, Suite 1100
Clayton, MO 63105
(314) 804-4569
