Last week was the national observance of Child Passenger Week but it is a week that is observed throughout Delaware and in Newark. Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Week is a week that is dedicated to increasing the proper use of child safety seats, booster seats and seat belts. It is also a week that reminds parents that these safety devices should be used by everyone, every time they ride in a car. It is recommended by child safety advocates that parents follow the state child passenger safety law. Delaware's child restraint law requires that all children through the age of 6 years or 60 lbs. be properly restrained in a child safety seat. All children from age 7 or 60 lbs. must be properly restrained in a vehicle seat belt. In addition, all children under age 12 or 65 inches in height must be in the back seat if the vehicle has an active air bag in the front passenger seating position. This law is a primary enforcement law and the fine is $25.00.
The reason Child Passenger Safety Week is so important is that according to the Center for Disease Control, unintentional injuries due to motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 14 and under. The Delaware Office of Highway Safety reports that the state's misuse rate of child safety seats is 87%. Many children are riding in vehicles in the wrong car seat for their age and weight, not properly fitted into their car seat, and the car seat is improperly installed in the vehicle.
The Newark Police Department participated in CPS week by conducting patrols and checkpoints to identify children who might be at risk of injury in a crash because they are not properly restrained. Police officers are very concerned about the safety of children and their enforcements efforts are focused on preventing injuries and deaths to children. Telling parents about the injury or death of a loved one is not an easy task. Police officers are often the ones who have to notify a family about the injury or death of a child in a car crash. Officers know that these deaths and injuries can be prevented from happening when children are protected by being properly restrained. Officers want to assist parents in making sure their children are riding safe and secure in a car.
Children need to be fitted into a car seat and the car seat needs to be fitted into the vehicle. The best way to make sure that your child is properly fitted into and protected by their car seat is to have the car seat individually inspected by a nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. These inspections provide education to parents on how to choose the proper seat for their child, how to properly fit the child in the car seat, and how to properly secure the car seat in the vehicle. The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension Office, the Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) and the Delaware SAFE KIDS Coalition/Christiana Care Hospital man permanent fitting stations where parents can make an individual appointment to have their car safety seats inspected. All inspections are open to the public and free of charge. Anyone seeking to schedule an individual appointment can make an appointment year round at one of the permanent fitting station locations. The newest fitting station opened recently by the Office of Highways Safety is located at the Wilmington DMV lanes. The hours are from 9am - 1pm Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 4-8pm on Wednesdays.
For more information on Child Safety Seat check-up events and fitting station locations, you can visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov or the National SAFE KIDS Coalition website at: www.safekids.org Remember the SAFE KIDS motto that SAFE KIDS are no accident.
—Cindy Genau, Community Traffic & Safety Educator
Originally published in “Newark Outlook,” The Newark Post
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