Child Passenger Safety Week begins today, Sept. 21, launching a statewide effort to help parents and caregivers make sure children are properly secured in vehicles. The campaign runs through Sept. 27.
The N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program and Office of State Fire Marshal kicked off the week in Greenville today, with Safe Kids NC, Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program, Safe Kids Pitt County Coalition and Greenville Police Department. State and local law enforcement agencies across North Carolina are joining forces to promote child passenger safety through education, enforcement and seatbelt checking stations across the state.
“Child Passenger Safety Week is about making sure families have the knowledge and resources they need to keep children safe on every trip,” said GHSP Director Mark Ezzell. “A properly installed car seat can make a critical difference in a crash, and we want to help caregivers make sure their child’s seat is being used correctly.”
Ezzell and other state leaders hosted a press conference on the initiative today in Greenville. Certified technicians conducted a free car seat check clinic, offering the public hands-on installation demonstrations and safety inspections. Officials also distributed 50 free child safety seats to families in need.
Throughout the week, law enforcement agencies will staff checkpoint stations across the state to inspect child passenger seatbelts. Free services like car seat checking are available year-round for parents and caregivers of young children. Websites like BuckleUpNC.org provide detailed information about available permanent checking stations in all 100 North Carolina counties.
Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death for children. So far this year, 35 percent of children ages 0-14 who were killed in motor vehicle crashes on North Carolina roads were unrestrained.
Using the appropriate child restraint and installing it correctly can help reduce the risk of serious injuries or children being killed by more than half. There are 3,509 child passenger safety technicians certified throughout North Carolina. These technicians are trained to help caregivers pick the right car seat and demonstrate how to properly install the seats.
