If you’re raising young children, you know a time will come when your child balks at riding in the back seat of the car and asks to sit up front. It’s a special privilege for them. However, depending on your child’s age, size, and state law, it might not be the best idea. When can a child sit in the front seat in Kentucky?
Lexington car accident lawyers recommend always prioritizing your child’s safety.
When In Doubt, Follow the Law
Kentucky car seat laws mandate that any child
- 40 or fewer inches tall must ride in the back seat while secured to a child restraint system, also known as a “car seat.”
- A child under the age of eight who is between 40 and 57 inches tall should ride in the back on a booster seat, strapped in place by a seatbelt.
- The Kentucky State Police recommends that all children age 12 and under ride seatbelted in the back seat, whether they’re legally required to use a booster or not.
- Any violation of mandatory car safety laws can result in a $30 fine.
These are benevolent, practical rules. The second-most common cause of death for children between the ages of 4 and 14 is car crashes, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Smaller children tend to be safer in a crash while fastened to a car seat or seat-belted on a booster seat.
The boost allows the seat belt to cross the child’s chest instead of their neck.
Understanding the Dangers of Front Seat Airbags for Kids
Airbags were built for adults. Not for children.
In a high-impact collision, a front-seat airbag must deploy at explosive speeds (up to 200 mph) to save an adult’s life. However, in a low-to-moderate impact crash, that deployment force can cause serious injury to a child’s head or spine, especially if the young passenger is not properly restrained.
Keeping smaller children (age 12 and under) in the back seat greatly reduces the risk of fatal skull fractures and cervical spinal damage from otherwise survivable crashes.
High-speed airbag deployment can also cause:
- Broken ribs,
- Internal organ injuries,
- Eye damage, and
- Internal bleeding
to children not properly restrained in an accident.
Exceptions to Kentucky’s Car Seat Safety Standards
Because everyone’s safety is important, there are a few exceptions to the state’s passenger safety laws and guidelines.
- Children taller than 57 inches, even if they are under the age of 8, are not legally required to use a booster seat.
- If a child must sit up front, in a single-row pickup truck for example, the passenger seat must be pushed all the way back.
- Any child or person who cannot use a booster seat or seatbelt due to a medical condition is exempt. However, their condition must be documented in a physician’s letter.
- A RideSafer vest is considered an acceptable alternative to a child booster seat.
- Postal workers need not use a seatbelt as long as they are busy delivering the mail.
- Today’s Kentucky seatbelt laws do not apply to vehicles manufactured before 1982.
Kentucky Auto Accident Attorneys Have Got Your Back
Some crashes are so violent that injuries can occur even while observing the most rigorous safety standards. When this happens, you’ll need someone on your side to make sure you and/or your child receive all the necessary care and compensation.
Whether you took all the precautions or not, you still need protection after a car crash. Hospital bills and repair costs can add up fast while insurance companies drag their feet looking for ways to minimize payouts. Don’t let them.
At Peterson Law Office, we can assist with your case. Get in touch with an experienced, no-nonsense Kentucky auto accident attorney, and sleep easier.