Michigan families are gearing up for strengthened child passenger safety measures set to take effect in the coming week. In an initiative to decrease the tragic statistics that mark vehicle crashes as the leading cause of death for young children, the updated Michigan Child Passenger Safety Laws will introduce new requirements starting April 2.

The revised legislation mandates that children be secured in car seats that adequately fit their age, weight, and height as specified by the car seat's manufacturer. According to a report by the Michigan State Police Newsroom, these updates iterate that infants up to two years old must be in rear-facing car seats until they exceed the manufacturer's maximum weight or height, or reach the age of two. The law then progresses with age and size-specific stipulations for children up to the age of eight or a height of 4 feet 9 inches.

In alignment with national statistics, child safety seats have demonstrated a substantial impact on reducing fatality rates in vehicular incidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates a 71 percent fatality reduction for infants under one year old and 54 percent for children between one to four years old, when the restraints are used correctly in passenger cars.

"These new standards, along with following manufacturers' guidelines, will ensure children are safely secured in their car seats and better protected if a crash occurs," Katie Bower, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP), told Michigan State Police Newsroom. The law also accounts for scenarios where rear seating may not be available and addresses how to safely transport children under these conditions.