Welch’s Law To Keep Children Safe in Car Seats Takes Effect With Start of New Year

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Children under the age of two will be required to be secured in a rear facing car seat under a new law spearheaded by state Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, which took effect on Jan. 1.

“Studies have shown that children in rear-facing car seats are exponentially safer than forward-facing,” Welch said. “This legislation is about helping make sure that children are traveling as safely as possible.”

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, rear facing car seats reduce serious injuries by 92 percent. The new law requires all children under the age of two to sit in rear-facing car seats, unless they weigh over 40 pounds or are over 40 inches tall. In addition to requiring children under the age of two to be in a rear-facing car seat, the Welch-sponsored House Bill 4377 also makes any person transporting a child under the age of eight to be responsible for his or her car restraint. Residents should visit http://www.buckleupillinois.org/default.asp for more details on car seat regulations changing in 2019.

“The new guidelines will help parents choose the safest car seat for their children to travel in,” Welch said. “I encourage parents to double-check the car seats their children are using and make sure they switch to a rear-facing seat if they are not currently using one.”