NB 1648
Dec. 20, 2007
FREDERICTON (CNB) - Effective May 1, 2008, New Brunswick drivers will be subject to new requirements for securing child passengers in safety seats. Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General John Foran today discussed the new regulations with the president of the New Brunswick Medical Society, Dr. David Flower.
"Highway safety is a priority of our government," Foran said. "Premier Shawn Graham made a commitment to strengthening the province's child restraint legislation, and we're living up to that by putting these regulations in place."
"The New Brunswick Medical Society has been a long-time supporter of seat belt legislation, and this is great news," Flower said. "Traffic accident statistics tell us that children are being injured because they are being moved too quickly from booster seats to using seatbelts alone. Seatbelts save lives, but they are designed for adults. Booster seats position a child to simulate the height of an adult so that they will get the full benefit of the protection provided by a seatbelt."
The new regulations stipulate that all children under the age of nine must be secured in a booster seat until they reach at least 36 kilograms (79 lbs) in weight or 145 centimetres (57 inches) in height.
Research indicates that the use of an appropriate child passenger restraint reduces the risk of serious injury by 40 to 60 per cent in the event of a collision.
"We feel this is an important measure that will greatly improve the safety of New Brunswick children on our highways," Foran said. "My officials will be working closely with our partners in coming months to get the word out to the province's parents and drivers regarding the new regulations before they take effect in May."
07/12/20
MEDIA CONTACT: Chrystiane Mallaley, media relations, Public Safety, 506-444-5267.
07/12/20
