New Car Seat Law To Take Effect In Oklahoma On Nov. 1

A new law, effective November 1, requires all kids eight and younger to be in some kind of car or booster seat. Law enforcement will be able to pull you over and ticket you for not complying with this new car seat law. 

Here's what you need to know about the new rules. Starting November 1, all children under two years old must be in a rear-facing car seat. Kids two to four can use a front-facing seat, and children over four before their eighth birthday or shorter than 4’9” must be in some kind of car or booster seat.

Under the old law, booster seats were only required up to five years old. But research shows that's not adequate.

"The seat belts are made for adults. With an adult seat belt, the strap sits on our hips, on our strong hip bones. On a child, that lap belt sits up on their stomach, so if you're in a crash, that's going to put a lot of pressure where we have a lot of internal organs," said Jenny Rollins, Child Passenger Safety coordinator.

According to the Oklahoma Child Death Review Board, 69 children died in traffic-related deaths last year. Nearly half were not properly restrained with seat belts or car seats.