An amendment to the Highway Traffic Act made yesterday (June 7) in the House of Assembly will require drivers to use booster seats in their cars and trucks for most children up to and including age eight, in addition to the child care seats already in place for younger children. These requirements will be brought into effect July 1, 2008.

"The safety of our children should be the first thing we think about when we get behind the wheel of a vehicle," said the Honourable Dianne Whalen, Minister of Government Services. "The Highway Traffic Act has not been amended since 1982 when seat belt and child restraint legislation came into effect in this province. We changed this legislation to ensure that we reflect current best practices. Most seat belts are designed for adults. This puts smaller children at risk for serious injury in vulnerable body regions such as the neck, shoulder, abdomen, and groin/hip region."

Specifically, the legislation will require all children age eight and under, who weigh between 18 and 37 kilograms (approximately 40 and 80 pounds) and who are less than 145 centimetres (four feet nine inches) tall to be in a booster seat while they are being transported in a car, passenger truck, taxi, vehicles used by day cares and school contract vehicles. Previously the legislation only required child care seats for children younger than five years old and who weighed less than 18 kilograms or 40 pounds.

When a child is restrained properly in a booster seat, which is appropriate to their height and weight, they are much less likely to suffer serious injury or die in the event of a crash. The cost of a booster seat varies, depending on the type of model, but they start at between $25 and $35 and there are models which will fit a child for several years as they grow.

"Protecting the health and well-being of our residents through injury prevention is a key element of our Provincial Wellness Plan," said the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Health and Community Services. "We must be especially vigilant in ensuring the safety of children. This amendment will provide the legislative measures necessary to ensure that children are appropriately protected when travelling in vehicles."

The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association (NLMA) applauded the Provincial Government's decision to make booster seats mandatory. "Child restraints such as infant carriers, car seats and booster seats have been proven to save lives and prevent serious injury. If children travel in a child restraint seat that is used correctly and is appropriate to their height, weight and development, they are 70 per cent less likely to suffer serious injuries and 90 per cent less likely to die in the event of a crash," said NLMA President Dr. Joseph Tumilty. "Child safety and injury prevention is a priority area for the NLMA and we are pleased to see government act on the key recommendations contained in our position paper on child passenger safety."

The departments of Government Services and Health and Community Services will carry out a public awareness campaign to highlight the requirement for parents, guardians and other caregivers to use booster seats for their children and the safety benefits of doing so. This will be unveiled at a later date before booster seats become mandatory.

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