Car Seat Laws in Pennsylvania
Car seats are an important safety measure for your children and grandchildren. Pennsylvania has laws pertaining to the type of car seat required for your child based on their age, height, and weight. By following these regulations and properly installing your car seat, your child will have a safer, smoother ride.
Types of Car Seats
There are several types of car seats available. Each type can accommodate children of certain sizes. Some car seats are adjustable and can grow with your child. Not all car seats are suitable for all cars. It’s important to check details from the manufacturer to ensure you have the proper car seat for both your child and your vehicle. With all of that in mind, here are the most common types of car seats available.
- Rear-Facing Car Seats—Rear-facing car seats are recommended for children ages 0 to 2. They include harnesses and provide the best protection for small children. In the event of a collision, a child in a rear-facing car seat is cradled by the car seat and this reduces stress on the child’s neck and spinal cord.
- Forward-Facing Car Seats—Forward-facing car seats include a harness and tether that limit your child’s movements in a collision. They are recommended for children that have outgrown the rear-facing car seat and are too small for a booster seat. The typical age range is 2 to 4 years old, but it can vary depending on your child’s height and weight.
- Booster Seats—Booster seats are recommended for children between the ages of 4 and 8 who have outgrown forward-facing car seats. They help to raise your child to a position where a vehicle’s lap and shoulder belt fit properly over your child’s hips, chest, and shoulder.
Pennsylvania’s Car Seat Requirements
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, your child must stay seated in the back seat through at least the age of 12. Car seats are required for children who fall within the height and weight limits set by car seat manufacturers.
- From Birth to 2 Years of Age: Pennsylvania requires all children within this age range to remain in a rear-facing car seat until they have outgrown the max weight and height limits per the car seat manufacturer.
- From Birth to 4 Years of Age: Pennsylvania requires all children within this age range to be properly restrained in an approved car seat in the back of the vehicle.
- From 4 Years to 8 Years of Age: Pennsylvania requires all children within this age range to be restrained in an appropriate booster seat.
- From 8 Years of Age and Up: Pennsylvania requires all children within this age range to wear a seat belt. Seat belts should lie across your child’s upper thighs and fit snug across the shoulder and chest. If it rests along the stomach, face, or neck, it is not properly fitted.
Installing Car Seats
Car seats can be tricky to install, especially for new parents. If you are unable to determine how to properly install a car seat with your car seat instruction manual and vehicle’s owner manual, both PennDOT and the Pennsylvania State Police offer solutions. PennDOT has fitting stations with trained technicians, and the state police offer regular safety checks in certain counties.
The attorneys at Cornerstone Law Firm are here to help.
If you or your child have been injured in a car accident, the attorneys at Cornerstone Law Firm can help. We’ll work on your behalf to contact insurance adjusters and get you the compensation you deserve. Call us today to schedule a free personal injury consultation.
