Virginia Tightens Car Seat and Cell Phone Laws
Virginia has passed stricter regulatory measures regarding children in cars. Starting on July 1st 2007, all children eight and younger must be secured by a child restraint device. Previously the law had only applied to children five and younger.
Furthermore, Virginia has banned drivers under 18 from using telecommunications devices, including cell phones, while driving.
More about this legislation can be found at eMaxHealth.
The ban on minors using cell phones is in keeping with laws in other states restricting cell phone use in cars and is much more lenient than many of them--for instance, an Oklahoma legislator wants mandatory jail sentencing for all crashes related to cellphone talk, as reported in the Ada Evening News.
The requirement that eight-year-olds be in special child restraints while in cars seems draconian at first glance. The silver lining is that it indicates an increased attention to car safety for children.
