The study, “Effects of Upgraded Child Restraint Law Designed to Increase Booster Seat Use in New York,” in the September 2010 print issue of Pediatrics (published online August 9), examined injury rates before and after the implementation of a booster seat law in New York State. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children aged 4 to 6, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children who are 4 years old and older and weigh at least 40 pounds should use a belt-positioning booster seat.

In 2005, New York’s upgraded child restraint law went into effect, requiring booster seats or other appropriate child restraint systems for children ages 4 to 6 years. Using the New York State Motor Vehicles Accident Information System, the authors found that the new booster seat law resulted in an 18 percent reduction in injury rates for 4- to 6-year-olds. The decrease was mainly attributed to a 72 percent increase in booster seat usage after the law was passed.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org.