Saw this commercial saying kids need a booster seat up to 4'9"?

Question

Come on-isnt that kinda extreme?

My wife is a petite little lady-she is only like 4'11" (if that). Does that mean if she was 2 inches shorter she would need a kids booster seat to drive?

Here is the commercial on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8KK5vrcMyY

Answer 1

Every state has different laws on this matter. I live in Kansas and the law is 8 years old or 80 pounds. You just have to look into your states laws on this matter. As far as the commercial, it is probably sponsored by car seat manufacturers. 4'9" is a little too much, my son would probably end up being like 14 or 15 before he got out of one..lol. He's a little guy, he's 7 years old and is like 3 feet, 39 pounds...lol.

Answer 2

no. it's either a weight or height thing. if there was to be a crash, a small child could be harmed by the seat belt if not sitting on a booster seat. If the child is heavy enough but not tall, they don't need a seat (also, as many seats have a certain weight limit too).

Answer 3

Where I live its 80 lb or 8 years old. My girl is 40lb and 7 years old I still have her in a boosters seat. but on the 80 lb My sister is 18 and is  80lb she what to know if she had to have one to drive and thy said no you had to be under 8 I live in Alabama

Answer 4

for optimal safety in a wreck, if someone is under a certain height their chances are greater of dying if they are not in a safety booster seat. so yeah, if your wife were a couple of inches shorter it would be suggested for maximum safety that she use a booster seat whether driving or just as a passenger. obviously most adults who are that short probably don't use a safety seat but the ones who are very concerned with their safety in a wreck probably do.

Answer 5

My mum has looked in to this as she is 4ft 9ins. She was worried Because if she needed a booster seat, she could not reach the pedals lol. She was told that the rule does not apply to people over the age of 14.

Answer 6

Wow I'm just out of  a booster seat then. Thats stupid to me but Ive heard it before. I heard years ago it was 4'9 or 12 years old. Im sure its changed though

Answer 7

yeah well according to many booster laws my twins would have been sitting in a booster while in middle school. To me that is a bit much I mean imagine a friend coming in the car and seeing my 12 yr old in a booster? Talk about setting them up to be teased. In my van the seat belts are adjustable. They slide up or down at the shoulder so they fit nice. Personally I am only 5'1 as well.

My youngest is 8 and he still sits in a booster. He's only 50lbs and the law where I live says 60lbs AND 6 yrs old. It's not an either or they have to meet both of those milestones before they come out. I'll probably take out the booster when this school year is done, he's in third grade.

Answer 8

Hehehe, I think they can go by age range more than height. I think that kids up to 5 years are meant to use boosters now, but dont legally have to

Answer 9

It means if she were two inches shorter the seatbelts would not protect her in an accident.

It would be great if car manufacturers designed a seatbelt that was equally designed to protect tall men, short women, and kids.  Since they didn't, I don't see anything extreme about using a booster seat to make the seat belt effective.

In my state you need to be 4'9" or 8 years old to get out of a booster.  My daughter is not yet 4'9" even though she's 9.  You can bet she's still in a booster.