Illinois Car Seat Laws 2023

Saturday, August 5, 2023

Illinois Car Seat Laws 2023

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

Significant injuries can be avoided in a car accident simply by buckling up. In a recent year, over 600 children died in motor vehicle crashes because they were not properly restrained. These children were 12 years old and younger.

Ensuring your child’s safety accomplishes more than avoiding a fine; it can save your child’s life. Most states, Illinois among them, have car seat laws to protect children in the event of a car accident.

At Malman Law, your child’s safety is our priority. To find out more about protecting your child in a motor vehicle, we have provided an overview of Illinois car seat laws, demographic risk factors, and tips to keep your child protected.

Child Passenger Protection Act

The Illinois Child Passenger Protection Act, which has been in effect as of July 1, 1983, requires that children under 8 years old be secured properly in a child safety restraint system.

As of January 1, 2019, the Act also requires that children under 2 years old need to be placed in a rear-facing child restraint system. However, this does not apply if the child is 40 or more pounds or 40 or more inches tall.

The Act defines a “child safety restraint system” as any seat belt system that is approved by the Department of Transportation that is designed to “restrain, seat, or position children.” A restraint system could be the vehicle’s built-in seat belts, a booster, or a car seat.

Safety Seat Guidelines for Children

The Illinois Secretary of State has outlined the required safety restraints for children of various ages:

Newborn-2 years

Illinois requires that children be placed in a rear-facing booster seat unless they weigh at least 40 pounds or are at least 40 inches in height.

Ages 2-4

Children should remain in a rear-facing booster seat until they can be transitioned into a forward-facing seat with an internal harness system.

It is important to follow the car manufacturer’s recommendations before placing your child in a forward-facing car seat. Children should remain in a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height restrictions.

Ages 4-8

When children outgrow the forward-facing seat, they should transition to a belt-positioning booster seat. A belt-positioning booster seat will properly position the seat belt across the child’s body.

Ages 8-12

Children should remain in a belt-positioning booster seat until they meet the height and weight recommendations to switch to an adult lap/shoulder belt.

An adult lap/shoulder belt should fit securely across the chest and upper thighs. The shoulder belt should not lie across the neck.

Installation Tips for Rear-Facing Seats

If you are a first-time parent, it can be difficult to know if you are properly installing a rear-facing seat. Always consult the owner’s manual before installing any type of car seat or booster seat in your vehicle.

Here are some tips for installing a rear-facing seat:

• Place the harnesses in your rear-facing seat in slots that are at or below your child’s shoulders.
• Ensure that the harness is snug and that the chest clip is placed at the center of the chest, level with your child’s armpits.
• Make sure the car safety seat is installed tightly in the vehicle with either lower anchors or a locked seat belt. If you can move the seat at the belt path (where the seat belt or LATCH goes through) more than an inch to either side or front to back, it needs to be tightened.
• Never place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle that has an active front passenger airbag. There is the potential for serious injury if the airbag deploys.
• Make sure the seat is at the correct angle so your child’s head does not flop forward. Check the instructions to find out the correct angle for your seat and how to adjust the angle if needed.

Risks for Children Passengers

Certain risk factors increase the likelihood that children will ride unrestrained:

Age

Older children are more likely to not buckle up. Fatal crash data from a recent study shows that 40% of children who died in car crashes between the ages of 8-12 were unrestrained, compared to 31% of children under the age of 4 who died in car crashes.

Another contribution to fatalities is children graduating to the next level of child restraints before they are ready. Age-appropriate restraints are crucial in preventing injuries and death.

Ethnicity

Native American, Alaska Native, Black, and Hispanic children are more likely to suffer fatalities since they are less inclined to buckle up.

A recent study revealed the following data:

• 34% of Black children ride unrestrained;
• 17% of Hispanic children ride unrestrained; and
• 8% of White/Caucasian children (between the ages of 4-7) ride unrestrained.

Rural versus Urban

Children who live in rural areas are more likely to be killed in a crash. In one study, fatality rates for children in rural counties were 4.5 per 100,000 population, compared to 0.9 per population of 100,000 in urban counties.

Multiple studies reveal that when compared to urban areas, it is more common for children in rural areas to misuse restraints.

How Effective are Restraint Systems in Reducing Injuries?

In order to reduce injuries and fatalities, children must be secured in the appropriate booster seat, car seat, or seat belt based on their age and size.

The numbers speak for themselves:

• Booster seats used for children ages 4-8 have been shown to reduce the risk of injury by 45% when compared to seat belt use alone.
• In a recent study, booster seats have been shown to reduce moderate to severe injuries in children ages 7-8.
• Car seat use has been proven to reduce the risk of child injuries in a car crash by 71-82%.

Contact a Chicago Car Accident Lawyer

We all strive to keep our children out of harm’s way. While you may take the proper precautions, accidents can still happen. If your child sustained injuries in a motor vehicle accident, we can answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation. No commitment is required.