Odd child restraint law.

[AdventureMom]

After reading a previous post about states with "proper use" laws, I looked up the Virginia law. Take a look at this (bold mine):

46.2-1095 Code of Virginia •
Any child up to age eight must be properly secured in a child restraint device approved by United States DOT when riding in a vehicle made after January 1, 1968.

Huh?!? I guess not all vehicles made before 1968 had seatbelts. But maybe the law should be that a child shouldn't ride in one of these vehicles rather than a child restraint isn't needed.

[Jeanum]

Right, I think that's when the federal requirement for seatbelts in new vehicles went into effect. So technically a child restraint couldn't be properly installed in an older model vehicle, unless it was retrofitted with seatbelts. I completely agree with you about it being better to not use the car at all to transport a child (or anyone else for that matter) if it doesn't have seatbelts.

[southpawboston]

i agree that it's better not to have a child in a car older than 1968, but i don't think there should be a law prohibiting it. the law *should* be that for a child to ride in a car older than 1968, an appropriate restraining device would have to be retrofitted.

also remember, child restraint or not, there is no 1968 or older car in the world in which *i* would trust my child (or myself) to be "safe". i don't care if it was retrofitted with 5-point recaros for every passenger. the car itself is not safe in a crash.

[skaterbabscpst]

There's no way that law would pass. Because the arguement then becomes, what if there's no other choice for transporting the child? Granted, it's not a reasonable arguement given that even older cars can be replaced without spending a fortune, but it would preclude the law getting passed.

[AdventureMom]

Oh, I don't seriously think a law should be passed saying that...! I guess I was just trying to make the point that it doesn't make sense that if child restraint laws serve to keep children safe, then it should apply to all vehicles and not have a cut-off date for the model year. Do other states have that? :scratcheshead:

[nisi]

Yes, a lot of states have something similar. I don't think I've seen a date specified before, but it usually says something like a child is required to be restrained if they are transported in a vehicle that is required to be equipped with safety belts.

[skaterbabscpst]

Most states have exemptions for pre-seatbelt vehicles, in fact it's possible all of them do.