Buckle Up For Passenger and Child Safety
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) recently issued a press release about seat belt usage and child passenger safety. They’re observing National Child Passenger Safety Week by encouraging everyone to buckle up. This includes making sure small children are secured in size and age appropriate safety seats or booster seats. Their slogan “Do Not Give up Until Everyone Buckles Up’ is aimed at making sure all passenger occupants in your vehicle are buckled up, whether they’re adults or children. The CHP will also be participating in a variety of educational events and will have technicians on hand to assist motorists with their child safety seats.
Child Passenger Safety
Buckling up and using car and booster seats for children are the best ways to protect yourself and your family members in the event of a car accident. According to the CHP, buckling children in age and size appropriate car seats, booster seats or seat belts reduces the risk of serious and fatal injuries by as much as 71 percent in infants, 54 percent in toddlers and 54 percent in children four to eight years old. For older children and adults, seat belt usage reduces the risk of serious injury and death by approximately half.
National Seat Check Saturday
As usual, National Child Passenger Safety Week will conclude on National Seat Check Saturday, which falls on September 19 this year. Technicians with the CHP will be all over the state helping to educate about the importance of child safety seats, inspecting child safety seats and helping families properly install and adjust their child safety seats. The CHP is encouraging parents and caregivers to contact their local CHP offices to make an appointment with a certified child safety seat technician for a free car seat inspection.
Car Seat Safety
Under California law, children under the age of eight, or under the height of 4 feet 9 inches, are required to ride in the back seat of a vehicle, in either a car seat or a booster seat. In addition to having your child’s car seat checked by a technician, it’s also a good idea to register your car seat with the manufacturer. This is the best way to ensure you’ll be up to date on any potential recall information regarding your seat. Remember, age and size appropriate car seats and seat belts are the best way to protect yourself and your family in the event of a car accident.