Florida AAA offices plan to give away new car seats as a way to increase the awareness of a new law that requires children under age six to be in a car seat or booster seat.

Before Jan. 1, the cutoff age was 3 years old.

Vanessa Jones illustrated one of the safety advantages of a booster seat. She’s a spokesperson for AAA, the group that pushed for the change in Florida.

“We’re advocates for safety," Jones said. "It just makes sense of course that we want our children to be on the road in booster seats because it cuts down on the fatalities.”

Octavious Bugosh agrees with the new law. He said he’ll make sure his 5-year-old has the right booster seat.

“I’m for the law.  Hopefully it will encourage everyone to think of children’s safety and hopefully cut down on car accidents and children being hurt, fatalities in car accidents,” said Bugosh.

The right booster seat will not only boost your child so the seatbelt fits across his or her lap, it will also keep the top part of the seatbelt from settling on their neck.  It should fall on the shoulder area.

“The booster seat actually boosts the child up so the adult seat belt can fit on them properly,” said Jones.

AAA is giving out free booster seats every Friday in January.  But you must set up an appointment and the seat has to be for a child who is at least 4 years old.

You don’t have to be a AAA member. However, you must qualify to get one. Only one carseat put family.

AAA said they are ordering more carseats due to demand. They have a limited supply. Call the AAA branch near you for more information.

AAA said car crashes are one of the leading causes of death among kids ages 1–9.

The company doesn’t just advocate for the new law requiring booster seats until age 6.

It recommends it for any child who is 4 feet, 9 inches or shorter.

More information on the new law on the AAA website. You can also go to the AAA website to find a location near you.