What The New Hampshire Car Seat Laws 2020 Recommend?
The car seat laws are pretty straight forward as compared to the other states of the United States of America. It is the only state that allows the adult drivers or passenger of a moving vehicle to be seated without fastening their seat belt. Furthermore, there is no restriction to place the children in any individual seats. They have just recommended placing the children under the age of 18 to be set such that they are in some kind position that restrain them in a moving vehicle.
What Is The Car Seat Laws In New Hampshire For Sedan, Minivan And SUV?
The law that drivers or riders above the age of 8 years do not need to fasten the car seat belt. These laws apply to Sedan, family vans, SUV and small trucks. This law does not apply to taxi/cabs limos, passenger vans and public transport. Except for these vehicles, all other vehicles are required to have some restraint system for the children under the age of 18. Once a child reaches the height of 4’9″ they are not supposed to be in a child safety seats or booster seats.
What Is The Fatality Rate In New Hampshire?
It is of interest to know that the fatality rate in New Hampshire is too low at 7.6 per 100,000 people than the average of other states. The national average in the US is 11.4 per 100,000 people. It is to be noted that the New Hampshire car seat laws are flexible as compared to other states. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
What Does The Laws For Rear-Facing Car Seats In New Hampshire Recommend?
New Hampshire follows the guidelines recommended by the federation for the safety of children. That is:
Infants under the age of 2 and the weight of 20lbs should be placed in a Rear-Facing car seats. These rear-facing car seat should have a harness system of 5 points.
How To Place Rear-Facing To Avoid The Damage?
Rear-Facing Car Seats have different types like, infant seats, that lasts for just 8-9 months. These seats are installed at the back of with face to the rear end. It is recommended to read the instruction of the car seats manufacturer about the weight and height recommendations to avoid any damage. Usually, it is recommended to use the rear facing car seats until the child reach the weight of 20-30lbs. They are to be placed that it shares the force generated in a car crash and removes the chances of trauma or any other head injury. Most the life taking injury to children are caused when they get an impact of a crash on head, spine or shoulders.
It is to be noted that the rear-facing seats should be placed at the back of the car because it causes 5 times less damage to head and shoulders area of the children in case of any crash. The shoulders straps are to be placed at or under the shoulder to avoid the damage.
What Does The Laws For Front-Facing Car Seats In New Hampshire Recommends?
It is recommended to switch the child to the front-facing car seats when the child reaches the age of 2-3 years and weigh more than 2lbs. It is recommended to keep the child in the front-facing car seat as long as possible or the child reaches the recommended age, weight and height as by the manufacturer of car seats user manual.
It is also recommended to not to switch the child if the child’s head is one inches below the back of the car.
What The Booster Seat Laws In New Hampshire Recommends?
It is recommended to switch the child to the booster seat when:
- The child reaches age between 4-8 years old.
- The weight of child is 40lbs or more than 40lbs.
It is very important to read the instruction given by the booster seat manufacturing company. According to booster seat laws it must restrain the child from the lap and shoulders.
There are two types of booster seat:
- Backless Booster Seats, that are to be used only when the vehicle has proper headrests. Because the main parts to be protected are the child’s head and shoulders. These are to protected when there are proper things that supports the head and shoulders.
- Headrest booster seats, in case the vehicle doesn’t have a headrest then this kind of the booster seats to be used to protect the head and shoulders of the child. If the headrest are not there or not safe than incase of crash the child can have a severe injuries on head and shoulders.
Proper Positioning And The Belts In Booster Seats:
When the booster seats are restrained with the help of seat belts, the belts are to positioned such that lap belt of a seat belt fits across the lap not the stomach. The shoulder belt is to be placed at the shoulders and not the head or neck. It should also not be beneath the child’s arm which is highly unsafe.
The proper positioning of the child is to be such that the child’s feet touches the floor of the car and can be sit up straight. The child should be able to sit in that position for a longer period of the time. If a child is not able to sit like this than it should be roll back to front-facing car seat to avoid any damage. Because New Hampshire Car Seat Laws are made to ensure the utmost safety and comfort of the riders and driver. By these precautions the accident rates can be controlled.
What Are The Height And Weight Requirements For New Hampshire Car Seat Laws?
As compared to the other states there are no proper height and weight requirements in the car seat laws of New Hampshire as again the New Hampshire uses the recommendation of the car seat laws of federation. They are:
- Children that are aged under 2 years and weighs under 20 pounds should be placed at the rear-facing car seats
- Children that aged under 4 years and weighs 40 pounds should be placed at the front-facing seats.
- Children that aged under 8 years and are under 4’9″ height should be placed at the booster seats
- Ages 9 or above are recommended to use the regular car seat belts.
According To Car Seats Laws In New Hampshire, When Are Children Allowed To Use The Regular Seats?
Car seats law recommends that a regular seat can be used by children when the pass the eight birthday and the regular sized seat belt is totally fit for them. It is recommended that the passenger to sit in such way that their knees are bent at the edges of the seats and allow them to sit for a longer period of time. The shoulder is in such a place that it is over the chest and collar bone. I addition the lap belt of the passenger is under the thigh’s areas. A child is not allowed to sit on the regular seat of a moving vehicle if any of the rules don’t apply to a child.
What Are Laws For Seatbelts In State Of New Hampshire?
There are no proper laws for car seat belts in New Hampshire as they require the adult to may not use the seat belt. In past an effort was made and the legislature passed HB383, by which all the adults in moving vehicle are bound to fasten the seat belt but senate however voted against it by the vote of 16-8.
There was another attempt made to pass a bill that make it mandatory for the riders to wear a seat belt but that bill wont passed. The US government has made it car seat belt rule mandatory for all the 50 states, but they did not make it a requirement that is the reason that same rules are being followed in the New Hampshire still.
What Is The Average Of People Wearing Seat Belt In New Hampshire?
On average only 76.4% people wore which is too low as compared to the average of other states. The NHTSA confirmed that the other state have on average more seat belt fastening ration as compare the New Hampshire.