U.S. DOT Urges Parents and Caregivers to Continue to Buckle Up Their Children – Every Trip. Every Time.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation today reminded parents and caregivers that child safety seats and booster seats are the best defense young passengers have against death or injury in the event of a crash.   Over 30 years of research and real world experience has shown unequivocally that child restraints save lives and reduce injuries.

“Make no mistake about it - a seat belt alone doesn’t deliver the same level of protection for young children that a child safety seat or booster seat offers,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research shows that over 7,600 children under the age of 5 have been saved by the use of child safety seats over the past 30 years. In fact, in 2008 alone, an additional 79 children under the age of 5 would have been saved if they had been restrained by child safety seats. On average, over the last five years, 355 children under the age of 5 were saved annually by the use of child safety seats.

In addition to saving lives, child seats and booster seats are key tools for protecting children from severe injury in the event of a crash.   Recent reports by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia show that car seats and booster seats reduce the risk of injury to children by about half, when compared to seat belts alone. 

The DOT also suggests that parents and caregivers get their seats checked by a certified child seat technician to make sure they are properly installed.  Click here: http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm to find an inspection station.

 

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