  richk_1957 If ..Then..Else Premium join:2001-04-11 Minas Tirith
| reply to Annmarie Re: NY state expands vehicle safety seat law
The age original law probably was based on studies of children's physical sizes, at what ages, and children under the age of 4 was the median. I've heard of a accident case [nobody was hurt] where it came out that a child was 3 yrs old (but was a big, husky child & wouldn't fit in any safety seat) and that fact alone caused them trouble & fines.
There probably was 'common sense' factor assumed. I was in a store once looking at something else when I overheard someone say to a salesman say "My son is small for his age" and the reply was "If you child is over 4 yrs, the law doesn't require a car seat, it's your decision". Granted, most parents (I hope) wouldn't take the chance & get it anyway. But there are some who would rather save money [after all, child safety seats aren't cheap] & take the risk.
That doesn't make any sense to me. After all, it's your child's life we are talking about, not some $$$ in the bank.
If you wanted to get cold & analytical about it, lets say you didn't buy a safety seat to save money. You get into an accident and your child is hurt because he was not in a safety seat. Is the amount you have saved not buying the safety seat equal to the medical bills & anguish you will have when your child gets hurt. |