Every year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) partners with local communities to hold Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs this year from September 15-21.
According to NHTSA, 39% of children 14 and younger who died in 2022 in passenger vehicle accidents were unbuckled.
The safety agency wants caregivers to know that it’s never safe to ride unbuckled in a passenger vehicle. Alarmingly, over half (52%) of child passengers 14 and under who died in pickup truck accidents in 2022 were not wearing seat belts, surpassing the fatality rates of other vehicle types.
Properly securing children in car seats that meet federal motor vehicle safety standards goes a long way in keeping them safe. When considering child safety, it’s crucial to understand that there’s a specific seat appropriate for each age and developmental stage.
Throughout the week, Alabama will offer free car seat safety education during Child Passenger Safety Week. Technicians will help educate families on choosing the right car seat for a child. After installing the car seat correctly, they will explain the crucial need for consistent proper use. They will discuss the importance of registering car seats with manufacturers.
You can find a local Child Passenger Services technician here.
You can click here to find a list of sites.
Tips on Child Passenger Safety
- Take advantage of the free car seat safety inspections in your area.
- If you’re pregnant, schedule a car seat installation appointment with a certified child passenger safety technician.
- Driver safety belt use strongly influences whether your child will buckle up. Always be consistent and wear your seat belt.
- All 50 states require child seats with specific criteria. Here is a list of child passenger safety laws by state.
- Click here for recalls for child seat manufacturers.
- Airbags can save the lives of older children and adults, they can be fatal for young children. Never place a rear-facing car seat in a front seat near an airbag.
- Always read instructions provided by the vehicle and car seat manufacturers for properly securing children in all seating positions.
For more information on choosing the correct car seat, click here.
