August 28, 2006 will be a banner day for kids and everyone in work zones on Missouri roads. Two major pieces of legislation effective on this day will change penalties for breaking laws in work zones and the other will require more young children to be secured in booster seats.

The new work zone law strengthens many of the previous regulations:

• Expands the definition of highway worker to cover suppliers and delivery personnel
• Repeals a sign covering/uncovering provision, which states that informational signs in work zones must remain unveiled
• Adds a passing in a work zone offense by prohibiting passing in a work zone on a two-lane highway when workers or equipment are present and/or when an appropriate sign is visible.
• Adds an “endangerment to a highway worker” offense- includes speeding 15 mph or more over work zone limit, passing violations, failure to obey traffic control devices, driving in undesignated areas, increased fine for assault on highway worker, altering work zone equipment.
• Makes a crime of “endangering a highway worker” or “aggravating a highway worker”
• Increases fines for violating work zone regulations and killing or injuring a highway worker

“Work zones can be dangerous, but with these new laws we hope to make work zones safer for both motorists and highway workers,” said System Management Director Don Hillis. “The increased fine will send a message to motorists that extra caution in work zones is required and violating traffic laws while driving in a work zone is a serious offense.”

All these changes will warrant the creation of a new work zone sign, which will be unveiled Aug. 28.

The new booster seat law will also keep kids safer in motor vehicles. It requires your child to be in a booster seat if they are ages 4-7 years old, unless:

• They are at least 80 pounds
• They are at least 4’9” tall

“The previous law only required children under age four to be secured in an approved child safety seat, so many children weren’t being adequately protected,” said Highway Safety Director Leanna Depue. “Just a few more years in a booster seat can help prevent serious injury and may even save your child’s life.”

Serious injuries can result from improperly fitted safety belts, which is often true of children ages four to seven that are secured only in a regular seatbelt during a crash. These injuries are commonly known as “seat belt syndrome”, which result in unnecessary bruising or broken bones. Booster seats help prevent this syndrome from occurring by raising the child up so the lap and shoulder belt fits them properly.

Child safety seats reduce the need for hospitalization by 69 percent and studies show that children ages two to five who are moved to a safety belt too quickly are four times more likely to sustain a serious head injury.

Keeping Kids Safe

As children grow, how they are secured in your car, truck or SUV should change. Save your child from injury or death by buckling them in correctly at every stage.

1. Rear-facing infant seats are used from birth to at least one year old and at least 20 pounds.
2. Forward-facing toddler seats are used from age one and 20 pounds to about age four and 40 pounds.
3. Booster seats with lap and shoulder belt are used from about age four to at least age eight, until 80 pounds or 4’9” tall.