Educating drivers on new VT. car seat laws

SHELBURNE, Vt. (WCAX) – Now one month since new child passenger safety laws went into effect in Vermont, police departments are working to educate drivers on the rules.

Saturday in Shelburne, multiple agencies gathered for a car seat safety check, where certified technicians helped parents inspect car and booster seats, and provide hands on tutorials for proper installation.

Since July 1 in Vermont, a child under two must be in a rear facing seat with a harness. Prior to the change, children up to one years old and twenty pounds could move to a forward facing seat.

Officials say despite the changes in the law, it’s important to change your child’s car seat, in phases based on weight and what the seat calls for.

“When we transition children in their car seats, we actually lose a layer of safety and protection, so we want to stop and think let’s wait until they can no longer, based on weight – they’ve exceeded that weight limit so now it’s time. So this is something to just slow down — slow down those transitions and check before you change,” Dr. Rebecca Bell of University of Vermont Medical Center said.

If you couldn’t make it to this car seat check, there are other events scheduled throughout the month.

https://beseatsmart.org

https://dmv.vermont.gov/news/effective-july-1-vermont-has-a-revised-law-related-to-child-passenger-safety-in-motor-vehicles

Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.