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Committee advances bill to adopt 5‑step seat‑belt test, extend rear‑seat guidance for children
Summary
Assemblymember Wilson presented AB 4 35 to the Assembly Transportation Committee, proposing that California adopt the internationally recognized 5‑step seat‑belt fit test and require children to ride in the rear seat until age 13 unless they pass the test.
Assemblymember Wilson presented AB 4 35 to the Assembly Transportation Committee, proposing that California adopt the internationally recognized “5‑step test” for belt fit and require that children ride in the rear seat until age 13 unless they pass the test.
Wilson told the committee the current California child‑passenger safety statute “contains elements that must be better aligned with research based best practices,” and that the 5‑step test has been endorsed by safety experts and adopted in other states. Proponents said the test better accounts for differences in vehicle seat geometry than a single height threshold.
Jennifer Rubin of Safe Kids Greater Sacramento, a longtime car‑seat technician, said classroom and outreach materials already advise families to “keep kids in the back seat until age 13 and ... continue using their booster seats until they pass the 5 step test.” She summarized the test’s practical checks: whether a child can sit with their back against the seat, knees bent at the edge, the lap belt low across the hip bones and the shoulder belt centered on the chest for the entire trip.
Stephanie Tumbrello, founder of SafetyBeltSafeUSA, summarized research evidence supporting the change: “Most children 12 still need booster seats,” she said, citing a University of Michigan finding that booster seats reduce crash injuries and a Washington State study reporting a 19 percent reduction in crash injuries with booster use. Tumbrello said SafetyBeltSafeUSA data showed “27 percent of children at 4 foot 9 failed the 5 step test” and that about half of children under age 10 fail the fit test in many vehicles.
Committee members raised enforcement and equity questions. A former law‑enforcement member said determining age and belt fit during a traffic stop may be difficult and urged a conditioning period before strict enforcement. Several lawmakers asked the author to work on carve‑outs for children who ride only in pickup truck cabs or in low‑speed neighborhood vehicles, and to consider delayed enforcement windows and additional public education.
After discussion, the committee voted to move AB 4 35 to the Appropriations Committee for further review.
