By Sarah Klein
Booster seats are displayed at a Winnipeg Canadian Tire store. (CHRISD.CA FILE)
The province’s new legislation to make booster seats mandatory in Manitoba comes into effect August 8.
Under the new law — originally announced last April — children who have outgrown forward-facing car seats but are still too small to safely use a seatbelt on their own, will be required to use a protective booster seat.
Requirements for the seat’s use will be based on the child’s age, weight and height requirements.
“Many children who have outgrown forward-facing child car seats are using seatbelts without a booster seat to properly position them, which makes them more susceptible to serious abdominal and spinal cord injuries in the event of a crash,” said Healthy Living, Seniors and Consumer Affairs Minister Jim Rondeau. “We want families to use booster seats until children can be safely and properly restrained by seatbelts alone.”
Children will be required to remain in booster seats until they are at least:
- 145 centimetres (4’9″) tall;
- 6 kilograms (80 pounds); OR
- nine-years-old.
Manitoba currently requires child car seats to be used until a child reaches the age of five or a weight of 22 kg (50 lbs.) under the Highway Traffic Act.
To ensure all families can afford a booster seat, the items are except from provincial sales tax.
