LANSING – State Representative Kathy Angerer (D-Dundee) today joined Governor Jennifer M. Granholm during a signing ceremony at the Capitol to usher in a new law that protects young passengers by requiring manufacturer-certified booster seats for children who are between age 4 and 8 and who are under 4 feet, 9 inches tall.
"It's vital that families with young children have booster seats to safeguard their loved ones, because a booster seat can literally mean the difference between life and death for a child," Angerer said. "Too many children in our nation die from car-crash injuries because they are not properly secured. The safety belts in our cars may look like they are safeguarding a small child – but they are not made for a child's body."
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths to children. In 2005, more than 2,300 Michigan children 8 and younger were injured in crashes, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health. Motor vehicle crashes remained the largest single cause of injury-related deaths in 2005, resulting in 16 deaths for Michigan children age 8 and younger. Studies indicate that a booster seat is four times more effective in preventing head injuries than a seat belt alone.
Angerer, who is Chair of the House Health Policy Committee, has been a vocal advocate for initiatives that safeguard the health and well-being of Michigan's children.
"The strong bipartisan support this plan received shows that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle recognize what an important role booster seats can play in protecting a child from injuries or even death," Angerer said. "I am pleased that we have worked so proactively in our state to strengthen the child-restraint system."