Michigan's Office of Highway Safety Planning has updated its Child Passenger Safety Laws.
Three federal organizations led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration establish federal guidelines, but each of the states must adopt them independently.
Katie Bower, Michigan's OHSP Director, said the state has updated the rules for infants and young children, but also raised to age 13 the law regarding where they can ride in the vehicle.
"The law that requires children under thirteen to remain in the rear seat protects them from the impact of most crashes that occur to the front of the vehicle," Bower said.
Bower added that Michigan is following a national trend that has seen many states already adopt the recommended standards. She also said that changes require action by state government and are not always immediate.
"It's just the legislative process," she said. "Sometimes, it's just, you know, there's different priorities. We need a sponsor to take up the bill. I don't really have any particulars on why there may have been a delay in this particular bill but there will be other states in the future that continue to adopt these standards."
Bower noted that the updates include that infants to two years must be secured in a rear-facing car seat that is appropriate for their age, weight and height allowed by the car's manufacturer or the child is two years old.
Michigan's updated laws went into effect at the start of this month.
