Columbia, S. C. - Governor Jim Hodges today signed Senate bill 187 into law during a ceremony at the State House.

The legislation requires anyone under the age of 18 to wear a seat belt on South Carolina's roadways. The bill also makes the usage of child safety and booster seats mandatory and requires any child under the age of six not be seated in a vehicle's front seat.

"Accidents on our roadways are the leading cause of accidental death for children up to age19 in South Carolina," said Governor Hodges. "By requiring the use of seat belts and safety seats, this law will reduce the number of fatal accidents involving our children and teens."

The new law goes into effect today.