Goal of NHTSA Child Passenger Safety Week

To help parents and caregivers be more aware, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) developed Child Passenger Safety Week. From September 15-21 of each year, the NHTSA reminds parents, caregivers, and manufacturers to take child passenger safety seriously. The goals of this safety week include:

·         Making sure that children are in the right seat for their age, height, and weight.

·         Making sure that seats are properly installed in the vehicle.

·         Making sure that seats are not defective, recalled, or expired.

·         Helping parents get updates about product defects or recalls.

According to the NHTSA, using the appropriate seat can:

·         Reduce the risk of fatal injuries among infants by 71%

·         Reduce the risk of fatal injuries among toddlers by 54%

Sadly, far too many children die as a result of not being properly secured in a vehicle. In fact, about 37% of children under five who died in accidents in 2017 could have been saved had they been properly secured.

Make Sure Your Child is Safe

If you are not sure that you are using the right seat for your child, or are concerned about the safety of your seat, September 21 is National Seat Check Saturday. You can use the NHTSA search tool to find an inspection station near you, where a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician will help you check your seat and make sure it is properly installed.