Point! There is such a thing as taking it too far. Though for small children, I believe the evidence is they are safer in a car seat in any car (granted a newer car is still better than an older one).

It can be taken too far, but the reverse ("we didn't ride in car seats, why should my one-month-old have to?" - and yes, I have heard someone say basically that) is maybe taking the reaction a bit far the other way. :)

13 and under? Ridiculous. At the point at which the safety belts *fit* them (or with a booster fit them) and they have reasonable head weight to neck muscle control, the benefits from a car seat (vs. booster or nothing) are minimal at best.

But for someone Drew's age? Or a newborn? I think there's still a lot of benefit there, for relatively little hassle in general.

[edited to fix a really stupid typo]