assignment for 6/22/07- article

Aly Hewitt, Type 1, find an article that pertains to traffic safety and post it to your blog-write a short reaction summary to the article.

Lawmakers Want More Kids Using Booster Seats

Christina Hager
Reporting

(WBZ) BOSTON Car accidents are the number one cause of death for young children. The law already requires us to use car seats for babies and toddlers, but some lawmakers are focusing on the next phase, older kids in booster seats.

At six-years-old, Ben Martin does not have to use a child safety seat by law.

But his parents already make their sons do what safety advocates want all Massachusetts children to do, use a seat.

Not only when they're babies, but all the way through the early grade school years.

"Safety belts are made for adults," said AAA spokesman Art Kinsman. "On me, the belt fits properly. It cuts across my chest, my lap, my pelvis, where it's supposed to."

But on children, experts say a seatbelt alone hits the wrong spots, increasing the chance of fatal injury.

"It can press with the force of the accident, against the liver, the spleen, intestines, and cause internal injuries," said Dr. Paul Schreiber.

Current state law has children in car seats until they're either five-years-old or 40 pounds.

The new proposed law would require a booster seat until the 8th birthday or when the child stands four-foot-nine in height.

Even though it's already on the books in most states, Massachusetts has resisted.

"My son would fight it. I'm a single mom. It's tough," said one unidentified parent.

"They like that sense of growing up, being big," said another.

The bill's backers say if it's the law, it may not be such a struggle and some kids may just surprise you.

If the law passes, parents caught with a child noout a seat face a $25 fine.

My Opinion~ Type 1

First, it shouldn't be "five years-old or 40 lbs. There are some pretty small kids out there and if they are under-weight at 5 and not 40lbs yet, that wouldnt really help the problem. One parent said, "They like that sense of growing up, being big." Well, if they get into a collision and aren't properly secure, they might not have the chance to experience the major "growing up" stages of their life. It should be a law for booster seats and car seats for babies and toddlers who meet the specific requirements.