Seatbelts Saves Lives

As technology progresses, seatbelts are even more effective at saving lives. Be sure that you and all passengers use appropriate safety restraints in your vehicle before driving.

In Alaska, wearing a seatbelt is the law. Alaska Seatbelt Safety law requires federally approved child restraint devices for passengers under 4 years old. Passengers aged from 4 to 16 must wear a seat belt or a child restraint device; whichever is age appropriate. Protect yourself by wearing a seatbelt and protect your loved ones by requiring them to wear a seatbelt in your vehicle. Appropriate Alaska Seatbelt Safety is not optional for adults or children.

Be aware that depending on height, weight, and medical status, seatbelts may need to be adjusted to appropriately protect a passenger. Do not move the shoulder belt to underneath the arm as this doesn’t correctly restrain an individual and could cause injury to the ribs. If you or your passenger are pregnant, remember to secure the lap belt portion across the legs and not along the belly to avoid potential injury to a growing baby if an accident should occur.

Car Seats Protect Children

It’s important to choose and use your child’s car seat carefully. Review the safety manual and installation guide thoroughly before securing your child in their car seat. Be sure to fasten chest clips across their chest and not across their stomach. The design and purpose of the chest clip is to help hold your child in place in the event of an accident. An improperly positioned chest clip could cause injury in an accident.

As we transition from fall into winter, it’s important to remember to remove thick outer layers before fastening children into car seats. Restraints won’t be as effective because of the additional space created by a winter coat. This space provides room for the child to move if an accident were to occur, which could cause serious injury and not provide the same level of protection.

Keep kids safer while driving Alaska roads by practicing Seatbelt Safety. Child safety is always a first priority, Alaska.

Johnson Law has been helping injured Alaskans for 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do. ~ Doug Johnson

Information Sources: Alaska Statutes

Image Source: Alaska Child Passenger Safety

Keep Small Children Out Of Front Seats

Increase safety when Alaska Summer Driving With Kids. Avoid encouraging the front seat as a right of passage. Until the child is of sufficient size and weight, the safest place for your child is the center back seat. Also, use an appropriate car seat or booster that actually fits your child. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of death among children.  Further, CDC studies show that car seats reduce risk of injury in a crash up to 82 percent compared with seat belt use alone.

Alaskan Law Regulates Car Seat Safety

AS 28.05.095 Use of Seat Belts and Child Safety Devices Required outlines the requirements for seat belt and car seat use in Alaska regardless of the vehicle occupant’s age.

Senate Bill No. 218 An Act Relating to Use of Child Safety Seats and Seat Belts defines changes to AS 28.05.095 to more clearly outline car seat requirements which keep our children safer.

Alaska Summer Driving With Kids and Car Seat Safety

Increase safety when Alaska Summer Driving With Kids. Read the manufacturer’s instructions and follow them completely, every time you put your child in a car seat. Before securing your child in a car seat, install it correctly.

Rear-facing car seats should be used for infants and children weighing 20 pounds or less. The chest straps should not have slack and the chest clip should be at the child’s chest, not their stomach. Remove blankets and jackets before clipping a child into a car seat to prevent space between the straps and child. This improves the safety and overall enjoyment of Alaska Summer Driving with kids

Children over 20 pounds and a year or more in age should use a five point harness. Keeping a child rear-facing is safer for their head, neck, and spine. However, once a child exceeds the maximum weight for a baby seat, the seat doesn’t protect the child against an impact to the same degree.

Children over four years old, less than 57 inches (4’9″) tall and under 65 pounds should be secured in a booster seat. Ensure the seatbelt crosses the child’s lap and rests along their shoulder, not their neck, chest, or stomach. A child may use a seat belt once over four years of age and exceeding the requirements of booster seats.

Enjoy Alaska Summer Driving With Kids

Alaska Summer Driving With Kids and car seat safety go hand-in-hand. Keep your children as safe as possible each time you drive with them in your vehicle. Make safe driving in Alaska during Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter weather a priority.

Johnson Law has been helping Alaskans for nearly 30 years. It’s who we are. Call Johnson Law at  (907)277-3090 or use our Contact Form to discuss your Alaska accident injury case. We are here to serve you.

And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do. ~ Doug Johnson

Sources: Alaska Legislature

Image Source: Parent Hub