Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of fatalities all across the country. Research conducted by Zero Deaths Maryland, a public safety initiative with Maryland Highway Safety Office (MHSO), states that in 2019 around 535 individuals were killed due to motor vehicle accidents. These statistics are alarming for anyone on the road and continue to spark concern for the health and safety of everyone on the road.
As parents, keeping our children safe and out of harm’s way is one of our biggest concerns and responsibilities. We want to make sure that our children are seated correctly and in a way that they are safe in the event of an accident. The Maryland Laws for how children are seated in the car is essential to keeping your children safe.
What is Maryland’s KISS Program?
The state-wide program that helps educate Maryland residents on proper child passenger safety is called Kids In Safety Seats (KISS). Their main goal is to help reduce the number of injuries and deaths among Maryland children with accessible information and resources. Some of their other goals include:
Inform the residents on Maryland’s Child Passenger Safety Law
Provide materials and guidance for the state’s residents
Offer training and technical assistance on child passenger safety
If you have concerns or questions regarding your safety seat or requirement and it relates to child passenger safety, you can contact the Kids In Safety Seats (KISS), and they’ll provide you with an extensive amount of information and assistance. With their help, you can make sure your children are safe.
The 3 Types of Safety Seats that Can Keep Your Child Safe in Maryland
Maryland’s Child Passenger Safety Law states that a child between zero to seven years old and shorter than 4’9″ must be secured in a child safety seat. The type of seat a child sits on will depend on the child’s weight, age, and height. The following are some recommendations the safety seat should follow:
Rear-Facing Car Seat
Rear-facing car seats are recommended for babies and young toddlers until they are around 30 to 45 pounds. Prior to the rear-facing safety seat, parents should use an infant-only seat until they grow out of the device.
Forward-Facing Car Seat
Once the child has outgrown the rear-facing car seat, they must use a forward-facing car seat until they are four years old and weigh about 40 pounds. Many parents may choose to move their children to forward-facing seats too quickly without realizing the dangers that come with progressing children too fast.
Booster Seat
After your child is old enough and meets the weight requirements of the standard car chair, you should still keep them in a booster seat until they are over the age of eight and are 4’9″ in height. These laws are created to make sure the seat belt requirements are functioning for young children.
If the child is in a booster seat, car seat, or other devices that restrain the child, it must be up to federal standards. Making sure you have the proper safety equipment to protect your child in case of an accident is vital as a driver of young children. We want to make sure everyone is safe while on the road.
Trust an Experienced Maryland Defense Attorney at Hillel Traub
When you work with the Law Office of Hillel Traub, you can count that your attorney will properly represent you and your intentions. With years of experience assisting Maryland residents with their legal needs, Attorney Hillel Traub is proud to offer clients accessible communication and honest advice. His dedication to the community and passion for justice motivate him to provide client-oriented legal services that you can trust.
Call (410) 580-1100 or fill out our contact form for more information about our services.
