Atkinson is an English-language surname. The name is derived from a patronymic form of the Middle English Atkin.
These are much more conservative than state laws, in general (for instance, everyone should be in a booster seat from about age 4 to at least age 8) but remain less conservative than some of the european standards (for instance, the European Child Safety Alliance recommends that children remain in rear-facing carseats until 3 years of age).
According to N.C. law, children less than age 5 and less than 40 pounds must sit in the back seat of any vehicle with passenger-side airbags. Safety organizations, though, advise leaving kids in the back until they are 12 or 13.