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

Three Kid Vehicle Safety Tips

1. Stay focused. As the driver, your goal is to stay as focused as possible while you’re on the road. If you become distracted, there’s a risk that you could make a mistake resulting in a crash that impacts your child for life. Increase child vehicle safety through preparation and planning. Stress to your children the importance of being calm in the car, since tantrums, yelling and other acts could distract you.

2. Get the right seats for your children. Booster seats and child safety seats have size and weight requirements. Always purchase a current seat instead of buying older used models, and make sure it’s designed for your child’s height and weight. Keeping your child in a car seat or booster seat until the child reaches the height or age limits of the state is vital to his or her safety.

3. Buckle up every time. Make sure your child buckles up. Yes, children sometimes unbuckle themselves. As a parent, it’s your job to pull over and reconnect the buckle each time to keep children safe.

With good preventative measures, it’s possible to keep children safe, even in serious crashes – through Child Safety Month and beyond.

When The Unthinkable Happens

Those injured in automobile accidents may wish to consult an attorney. Recovery from a car accident can be costly, and an individual might want to file a lawsuit against the individual or entity responsible.

If you consider hiring an Alaska Injury Law Firm for a serious injury claim after an accident in Alaska, speak to the experienced Alaska personal injury attorneys at Johnson Law, P.C. We know Alaska and Alaskan Law.

Keep kids safer while driving Alaska roads by practicing Child Vehicle 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 Source: Center for Safe Alaskans – Child Passenger Safety and Safe Parents – Alaska Car Seat Laws

Image Source: Safe Parents – Alaska Car Seat Laws