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Virginia’s Child Safety Seat Law takes effect January 1, 1983, amid a growing number of activities to publicize the requirements and the benefits of the new law.
Enacted by the 1982 General Assembly, the law requires children under four to be properly secured in child safety seats in Virginia vehicles driven by their parents or legal guardians.
Fifteen children four and under were killed in traffic crashes in 1981 and 1,671 were injured. The Virginia Department of Transportation Safety estimates child safety seats reduce the incidence of death or serious injury by 80 percent.
According to the new law, the safety seats must be approved by the Virginia State Police.
There are several exemptions to the law.
Children under four, but weighing over 40 pounds, may be secured by an automobile safety belt. The law does not apply to vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1968. Also exempt are vehicles with interior designs which make the use of safety seats impractical as well as buses, public transportation, farm vehicles or school buses.
If a physician determines a safety seat would be impractical because of a child’s weight, physical unfitness or other medical reasons, the child is exempt. The driver of a vehicle transporting a child with this exemption must carry a written physician’s
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