Child safety seats and seat belts, when installed properly and used correctly, can prevent injuries and save lives. Children who ride unrestrained are more likely to suffer severe injuries or death in motor vehicle crashes than kids who are properly restrained.

Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death and injury among all children ages 14 and under.

In 2005, there were 1,451 children ages 14 and younger that died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes, and approximately 203,000 were injured. That's an average of 4 deaths and 556 injuries per day. Of the children ages 0 to 14 years who were killed in motor vehicle crashes during 2005, nearly half were unrestrained.

Ohio law requires that every child less than 4 years of age and/or weighing less than 40 pounds must be secured in a federally approved child restraint system when being transported in a motor vehicle. Violation of this law is a primary offense. Infants up to 20 pounds and 1 year of age should ride rear-facing in an infant seat or convertible car seat.

Ohio has a new booster seat law!

Effective October 7, 2009 children, 4-8 years old or up to 4'9" tall, must be secured in a booster seat. Starting October 7, 2009 warnings will be given for the first six months to those who violate the booster seat provision. The law will take full effect on April 7, 2010. After this date, violation of the booster seat provisions will be a secondary traffic offense. For more information about child restraint systems and booster seats, and their proper use, call toll-free 1.866.CAR.SEAT.

Children 4-8 years old are too small to be protected adequately by the car's seat belt system, which is designed for an adult. Children 12 years old and under should always ride properly restrained in the back seat.

Ohio law also requires that every driver and front seat passenger must wear a seat belt. Violation of the booster seat law or the seat belt law is a secondary offense.