Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | November 20, 2024 | Orlando Personal Injury Blog
Given Florida’s warm weather and family-oriented lifestyle, children are frequently on the road, whether for daily activities or weekend outings. Parents often wonder about the safest age for children to sit in the front seat of a car.
Florida law does not state a minimum age for kids to sit in the front seat, and the state has rather loose child passenger safety laws. Here’s an overview of Florida child car seat laws and general recommendations for choosing the right restraint system and letting your kids sit in the front seat.
Florida’s Child Passenger Safety Laws
Florida’s child passenger safety laws outline the basics for car seat and seat belt use to help protect children in accidents. The child restraint requirements in Florida are actually very minimal, as the law does not even specify whether a forward or rear-facing seat is required. Children five and under must be in a federally approved child restraint, but children six and older are allowed to use a regular seat belt alone in Florida.
Florida law does not explicitly state when a child can sit in the front seat. The Florida Safety Belt Law requires all passengers under 18 be restrained by a seat belt or child restraint, whether they are in the front seat or back seat.
A violation of Florida’s child restraint law is a moving violation. If you are pulled over with a child under five who is not in an appropriate child seat or booster seat, you can get a $60 ticket and three points on your license.
Child Restraint Recommendations By Age
State and federal recommendations go beyond Florida law. Below are guidelines from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- Rear-facing car seat: birth through 12 months. Infants under one should always be in a rear-facing seat. Children should stay in a rear-facing seat as long as possible. Convertible or three-in-one seats have higher height and weight limits to support children up to three years.
- Forward-facing car seat: One to three years.
- Booster seat: Four to seven years. Children should be transitioned to a booster seat when they exceed height or weight limits for a forward-facing seat.
- Seat belt: Eight to 12 years. Kids should stay in a booster seat until they are tall enough for a seat belt to fit correctly. The lap belt should fit across the upper thighs, and the shoulder belt should lie across the chest and shoulder, not against the neck.
Children should not be transitioned to the next restraint type until they exceed the height or weight limits for their car seat or booster seat. Children are generally ready to sit in the front seat when they are at least 13 years old, 4’9”, and weigh at least 80 pounds. This ensures the adult seat belt fits properly and reduces the risk of seat belt and airbag injuries.
Rear-facing car seats should never be used in the front seat in front of an active airbag. If a younger child must sit in the front seat, position the seat as far away from the airbag as possible.
Why The Back Seat Is Safer For Kids
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and NHTSA recommend children ride in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old for several reasons:
- Greater distance from the point of impact in most collisions, including serious head-on crashes.
- Front airbags can cause serious injuries to children. These airbags are designed for adults and deploy at up to 200 mph. Children sitting in the front seat are at risk of more serious injuries, including brain injuries, neck injuries, and suffocation.
- Children’s bones are still developing, which increases the risk of serious injuries in a crash or from front airbag deployment.
Child safety seats reduce the risk of injury or death in young children by up to 71% and reduce serious injuries in older children by up to 45%. However, car seats need to be installed and used properly, and up to half of safety seats are not.
Parents and guardians can visit a Florida CPS seat fitting station for a free inspection by a certified Child Passenger Safety technician. A CPS technician can ensure your seat is installed correctly and teach you how to use your restraint system properly. Many fitting stations also offer free or low-cost child safety seats for families in need.
You can also check if your booster or car seat has been recalled and sign up for recall alerts through the NHTSA.
Contact Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law For Help
Sadly, even properly installed car seats can’t avoid all injuries in a crash. If you or your child have been hurt in a collision, Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law is here to help you. Call our law office for a free consultation with a Florida car accident lawyer to explore your options and get help pursuing the compensation you need.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer at Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law Today
For more information, please contact Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law to schedule a free consultation. We have five convenient locations in Florida, including Orlando, Palm Bay, Melbourne, Cocoa, and Titusville.
Orlando, FL Office
964 Lake Baldwin Ln Ste. 200, Orlando, FL 32814, United States
407-801-3000
Palm Bay, FL Office
4620 Lipscomb Street N.E Suite #3K, Palm Bay, FL 32905, United States
321-677-5964
Melbourne, FL Office
1600 W Eau Gallie Blvd #205j, Melbourne, FL 32935, United States
321-450-7134
Cocoa, FL Office
717 S Cocoa Blvd STE 203, Cocoa, FL 32922, United States
321-449-8042
Titusville, FL Office
4527 S Hopkins Ave Suite B, Titusville, FL 32780, United States
407-801-3000