Why is car-seat safety important? Here's one reason:

5-year old sustains injuries in a car accident. A lovely little girl is now in the hospital. She was in a lap-belt only, and not in a seat at all. When will people learn that car-seats aren't luxuries, or toys, and accept responsibility for using them correctly each and every time they're in the vehicle?

I know people who put their 5-year-old and 3-year-old in boosters. Because the older girl was "almost 40 lbs anyway" and the younger girl has to do everything her older sister does. Never mind that state law says 4 years AND 40 lbs. Because physics don't have any bearing in what happens in an accident, right? Or common sense?

I also know people who said "whatever happens, happens"... Like, um, isn't this your child we're talking about? I just hope and pray that we never, ever have to find out what could happen.

*sigh* People. If you have children, love them to death. But do everything you can to keep them from death's clutches in the event that you're ever in an accident. Please.