An Act relative to child passenger safety

SD 1501, titled "An Act relative to child passenger safety," requires children under 13 to ride in the back seat of a vehicle unless the car has no rear seat or the rear seat is occupied by other children under 13. This law directly affects drivers and caregivers transporting children under 13 in Massachusetts. The key provision mandates back seat seating for young passengers in most situations, with two exceptions: when a vehicle lacks a rear seat or when the rear seat is already filled with other children under 13. The policy change aims to enhance child safety by reducing exposure to front-seat risks like airbag deployment during collisions.