Child Passenger Safety Week – September 17-23
This week is Child Passenger Safety Week, taking place from September 17-23. During this week, we’re committed to providing you with vital information and actionable tips to ensure the safety of your smallest passengers.
First, a few key facts:
- Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of injury and death for children.
- Using the appropriate child safety seat reduces the risk of fatal injury by up to 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers.
- Seat belts save lives and reduce the risk of serious injury by about 50% for older children and adults.
4 Tips to Ensure Child Passenger Safety
- Select the right car seat: Use a rear-facing car seat for infants and toddlers until they reach the maximum weight or height limit specified by the manufacturer. Move to a forward-facing car seat with a harness when your child outgrows the rear-facing seat and then to a booster seat until they can properly fit in a seat belt–usually around 4 feet 9 inches tall. Get custom guidance here.
- Install the car seat properly: Follow the car seat manual and your vehicle’s owner’s manual for correct installation instructions. Ensure the car seat is securely installed and does not move more than one inch side-to-side or front-to-back. Place the car seat in the back seat, preferably in the middle.
- Insist on seat belt safety: Teach your children the importance of buckling up every time they get in the car and set a good example by wearing your seat belt. Ensure the seat belt fits properly: the lap belt should rest on the upper thighs, not the stomach, and the shoulder belt should cross the shoulder and chest, not the neck.
- Complete regular car seat checks: Take advantage of free car seat inspections by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician to ensure your child’s seat is correctly installed.
By implementing these guidelines and staying informed, we can work together, this week and always, to significantly reduce risk and protect the most vulnerable in our community.
If you have any questions about child passenger safety or any other legal matters, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re here to do whatever we can to keep your family safe and secure.