Free Resources for Parents to Ensure Children’s Safety by
RALEIGH – Every day too many children ride in car seats that have been installed incorrectly, or are riding in the wrong car seats for their ages and sizes. Other children ride while completely unbuckled. Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed September 17-24 as “Child Passenger Safety Week” and September 23 as “Child Passenger Safety Day” in North Carolina to coincide with highway administration’s national campaign and to highlight this important concern. “Safety of our citizens, especially our state’s most valuable asset, our children, is our main priority,” said Dr. Cheryl Leonard, assistant director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program. “Our goal is to considerably decrease child crash injuries and fatalities though offering child safety seat technicians with the tools to properly educate parents about child restraint and partnering with law enforcement in their commitment in enforcing child passenger safety laws.” Child Passenger Safety Week aims to bring awareness to parents and caregivers to make sure their children ride as safely as possible, every trip, every time. Child Passenger Safety Day will host “Seat Check Saturday” on Sept. 23, giving parents and caregivers the opportunity to stop at one of 241 permanent checking stations across the state. Certified technicians will check car seats and booster seats to be sure they are properly installed and appropriate for the child’s age, weight and height. The North Carolina Child Passenger Safety Law requires children younger than age 16 to be properly restrained in an age, weight and height appropriate restraint. As a parent, it is imperative that you know how to use your restraints properly. Children should ride rear-facing as long as possible (at least until age 2) up to the top height or weight allowed by their seat. Once your child outgrows the seat’s rear-facing capabilities, the child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness. After outgrowing the forward-facing car seat by height or weight, children should ride in a booster seat until the seat belt fits properly on its own. To learn more about Child Passenger Safety Week, Seat Check Saturday and the state’s occupant restraint laws, visit the GHSP website or BuckleUpNC.org. ***NCDOT***
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