Child Passenger Safety Week (September 15 – 21 2013)

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When I was younger, my dad owned a towing business. Because he saw so many horrible accidents and injuries that could have been prevented, I have never been in a car without a seat belt. Car seats, booster seats, and seat belts save lives and offer the best protection for children in crashes.

Did you know that in 2011, an estimated 123,000 children under age 13 riding as passengers of cars, SUVs, pickups and vans were injured in traffic crashes. That is too many kids injured in car accidents. I have 3 kids ages 8,5, and 3 years old. I want to do everything I can to protect them whenever we are traveling. It doesn’t matter if we are going a mile from our house or on a 6 hour road trip, I want to make sure my kids are as safe as possible in my car.

This week is Child Passenger Safety Week (9/15 – 9/21) and you can look for certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians in your community that will be providing free, hands-on car seat education and inspections.  Too many car seats are being used incorrectly.

Here are some statics about car safety that may surprise you:

• Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old.
• More than 3,660 children were killed in car crashes during a 5-year period (2007-2011).
• From 2007-2011, an estimated 634,000 children were injured. That’s more than the population of Boston, Massachusetts.
• In 2011, on average nearly 2 children under the age of 13 were killed and 338 injured every day while riding in cars, SUVs, pickups and vans.
• In 2011, over one third of children killed in car crashes were not in car seats or wearing seat belts. This can be prevented.
• Car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury in cars by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers. In SUVs, pickups and vans, they reduce the risk by 58 percent for infants and 59 percent for toddlers.
• In 2011, an estimated 314 lives were saved by car restraints among children 4 and younger.

All 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have laws requiring children to be restrained while riding in cars. Some States now require kids to ride in appropriate car seats or booster seats until age 9. The NHTSA now even recommends that you keep your children in rear-facing car seats as long as possible  – up to the top height or weight allowed by their particular car seats.

There are simple things you can do to make sure you kids are safe. If they are under 13, the safest place for them is in the back seat of the car. They may prefer to sit in the front seat, but sitting in the back seat could save their life.  Also, make sure your child is using the proper car seat for their age and weight. If they do not use a car seat – make sure they are using a seat belt.

To locate a Certified Child Passenger Safety technician in your area, go to safercar.gov/therightseat or download the free SaferCar app from the iTunes App Store.