Most of us probably remember that public service announcement from the late 1980s, with one child securely strapped in his car seat looking at a second child in the car next to him defiantly standing up in the back seat, the second child's irresponsible parent ignoring the fact that his or her child could torpedo through the front windshield with a sudden stop. \n Apparently the Indiana House of Representatives remembered the ad too; it passed a bill last week requiring parents to put children between ages 4 and 7 in booster seats. Motivated by the fact that automobile accidents are the number one killer of children 14 and under, State Representative Peggy Welch spearheaded the bill, which exempts any child who weighs at least 80 pounds and is at least 4 feet 9 inches tall. \n We feel that the bill is a great idea, and the Indiana Senate should pass it with flying colors.\n The need for booster seats may not be readily apparent, especially for a 7-year-old, who might seem too old or might be too embarrassed to sit in one. Booster seats, however, protect those children who have outgrown car seats, but have not grown enough to safely use seat belts. \nBloomington pediatrician Jim Laughlin said booster seats prevent serious internal injuries because the lap belt can be placed over the child's pelvis, rather than over the stomach. Further, the American Academy of Pediatrics has noted that seat belts need to be worn across the chest, rather than the neck or throat, to prevent serious injuries. In addition to injuries caused by misplaced seat belts, children have slipped out of seat belts in accidents and have been seriously injured.\nSafety concerns aside, the bill has received some criticism for being too intrusive on a parents' right to raise their own children. However, as Rep. Welch notes, Indiana already requires parents to put seat belts on their children, so this is merely making safer what is already expected for children ages 4 to 7.\nAnother criticism is that this bill will punish families unable to afford booster seats, who are then heftily fined (up to $500) for not having something they can't afford in the first place. But, booster seats can be purchased for as little as $20, and under the bill, all booster seat fines will go into a fund that will be allotted to public and private nonprofit agencies to help poor families attain the seats at little or no cost. Further, Rep. Welch said there are 51 sites around Indiana that already provide economic assistance for acquiring booster seats.\nAll things considered, this bill can only do good.
-- Andrew LeMar for the Editorial Board
