Know Georgia law when travelling in a vehicle with a child. Stay safe!
Staying Within the Law and Your Budget
From the Georgia Consumer Protection Division
In Georgia, automobile accidents are a leading cause of death and injuries for children ages 1 to 12 years. The national statistics are sobering – in 2016, 723 children were killed and more than 128,000 were injured, according to the CDC.
The lack or improper use of car seats is a major contributor to this problem. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 4 out of every 10 children under 6 who die or are seriously injured in auto accidents were unrestrained or improperly restrained; however, when car seats are used correctly they are 71% effective in preventing injury among infants and 54% effective with children ages 1-4. And children who use booster seats are 59% less likely to be injured in a crash than those using a seat belt alone.
Realizing the crucial role that car seats play in child safety, Georgia lawmakers passed laws and regulations pertaining to their use.
According to Georgia law:
- ALL children under the age of 8 whose height is less than 57 inches must ride in the backseat of a car. A child is safer in the back and farthest away from the force of an airbag. Remember that airbags are designed to save adults, and since they deploy with great force they can be fatal to children.
- Children under the age of 8 are required to be in either a car seat or a booster seat suitable for their age and height.
- If there is not a back seat in the vehicle (e.g., a truck) or if other restrained children are in the back seat, Georgia law permits a child under the age of 8 to sit in front if restrained in the proper car seat or booster and the child weighs at least 40 pounds.
- Georgia’s Primary Safety Belt Law allows law enforcement officers to issue a citation if they OBSERVE a seat belt offense. They do not need to stop the driver for another traffic violation first, as in some other states.
- Violating these laws can result in a fine of up to $50 and one point against your license per improperly restrained child. A second incident may double the fines and points.