As your Huron County Prosecutor, I want to take a moment to highlight an important change in Michigan law that directly impacts the safety of our children on the road. Beginning April 2, 2025, updated Michigan Child Passenger Safety Laws will take effect, strengthening protections for young passengers by ensuring they are properly secured in car seats or booster seats that meet updated safety standards.
Vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for young children, and properly securing a child in an appropriate car seat can significantly reduce the risk of injury or death in an accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), correctly used child restraints can reduce traffic crash fatalities by 71 percent for infants under one year old and by 54 percent for children ages one to four.
What the New Law Provides
The revised law provides clear guidelines for child safety restraints based on age, weight, and height:
- Infant to two years old: Children must be in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer or until they turn two.
- Two to five years old: Once a child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, they must transition to a forward-facing car seat with a harness until they reach the seat’s maximum weight or height limit or turn five.
- Five to eight years old: Children must then use a belt-positioning booster seat with a lap-and-shoulder belt until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall or turn eight.
- Children under 13 years old: Must ride in the rear seat of the vehicle if one is available.
Additionally, Michigan law states:
- Children under four years old must ride in the rear seat if the vehicle has one. If all rear seats are occupied by other children under four, a child may ride in a front seat with a properly secured car seat. If the child is in a rear-facing car seat, the front airbag must be turned off.
- Children must be properly restrained in a car seat or booster seat until they reach either eight years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall, whichever comes first.
As a prosecutor and a parent, I strongly support these updates because they provide an extra layer of protection for our children.
“These new safety standards will help prevent unnecessary injuries and fatalities, ensuring our youngest passengers are better protected in the event of a crash. I urge all parents and caregivers to review these guidelines and make sure their car seats are properly installed and meet the new legal requirements.”
For additional information on Michigan Child Passenger Safety Laws, including car seat check locations, visit the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning’s Child Passenger Safety webpage at Michigan.gov/carseats.
Let’s work together to keep our children safe on Michigan’s roads.
