Florida parents do their best to drive safely when their children are in the car. But that’s no insurance on local interstates and boulevards where reckless drivers can force family vehicles into collisions and endanger everyone inside.
Children must be protected with careful driving and with the best safety gear possible on the inside of the vehicle. Florida law goes into the right car seats required for the right age groups. Parents and anyone who transports a child should be fully aware of the rules to keep all little ones safe.
Ages for Each Type of Car Seat Requirement in Florida
Florida Motor Vehicle Statute FS 316.613 goes into the exact instructions that the parents or guardians of children must follow:
“1)(a) Every operator of a motor vehicle as defined in this section, while transporting a child in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of this state, shall, if the child is 5 years of age or younger, provide for protection of the child by properly using a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device.”
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) details the requirements for anyone driving with children in their vehicles.
Florida Car Seat Requirements for Children Under Two Years Old
For infants under two years old, a rear-facing car seat will be required. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position to keep a child rear-facing for a longer period of time. It’s the safest seat and position for a small child.
If the vehicle does not have a backseat, the rear-facing car seat should be used with the airbag turned off.
Florida Car Seat Requirements for Children Two to Three Years Old
Children should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the manufacturer’s height and weight limit. The rear-facing seat will work for different ages for different children.
Children will probably be between the ages of two and three when they grow out of a rear-facing model and will need a forward-facing child safety seat. If the vehicle does not have a backseat, the forward-facing car seat should be used with the airbag turned off.
Florida Car Seat Requirements for Children Four to Five Years Old
In Florida, children ages 4 through 5 must be in a separate carrier, integrated child seat, or booster seat. Once a child outgrows a forward-facing car seat, children can travel in a booster seat, always in the back seat.
If a vehicle does not have a backseat, the booster seat should be used with the airbag turned off.
Florida Car Seat Requirements for Children Over Five
Children must remain in a car seat until they are big enough to travel safely with a seat belt. The FLHSMV says that the child must meet these benchmarks in order to switch to a seatbelt.
- The lap belt lies snugly across the child’s upper thighs, not the stomach
- The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not across the neck or face
What More Can I Do to Protect My Child in a Car Seat?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA has more information on finding the best car seats for your children. You can find advice on when to make the switch to the next car or booster seat. The NHTSA also offers a consumer guide for purchasing a dependable safety seat.
- Frequently check for recalls on car seats on the NHTSA website.
- Register your child’s car seat so you are in line to get recall alerts.
- The car seat guidelines won’t apply if a child is being transported for a medical emergency
- Certain medical conditions may exempt a child from being in a child seat
Parents can also get an expert opinion on the installation of their car seats and their children’s fit by attending Florida Child Seat Fitting Stations. These checkpoints are scheduled in all Counties throughout the year. Keep an eye out for this important information service in your area.
Getting Help Earning Support After Your Child is in a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident
A frightening Fort Lauderdale accident can leave you or your child depending on a careless driver’s car insurance company for help. You may need major financial assistance to afford the best care available for your child.
Your child will likely require additional support for any potential problems their injuries cause in the future as they mature. Insurance adjusters won’t mention this when they try to get you to accept the first “lowball” offer they throw out.
Allow our Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyers to handle the stress and frustration of battling the car insurance companies and securing the maximum in compensation. This is done while providing as little disruption as possible to you and your child at such a difficult time.
We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to all victims. If you feel we can earn your child more for what they’ve been through, won’t need to have any money to hire us. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the car accident settlement check you receive.
