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The California Highway Patrol (CHP) recently issued a press release about the importance of child safety seats. The CHP is participating in the nationwide initiative to increase awareness about the importance of correctly sized and properly installed child safety seats for child passengers. This year, Child Passenger Safety Week is running from September 18-24.  

Sadly, motor vehicle crashes are still the leading cause of death for children in the U.S. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 46 percent of child safety seats are not installed correctly.  

Rear Facing Car Seats Until at Least Age Two  

In California, all children under the age of two, weighing under 40 pounds and under 40 inches tall must ride in rear-facing car seats. Additionally, all children under age eight must ride in the backseat of a vehicle, in age-appropriate child safety seats. It is also recommended that children ride in the backseat until age 13.  

During Child Passenger Safety Week, CHP Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technicians will be providing free child safety seat inspections, educational events and hands-on training for parents and caregivers throughout the state. On September 24, the week will culminate on National Seat Check Saturday. This is a great time to get your car seat checked, but don’t worry if it doesn’t work for your schedule. You can make an appointment with a CPS technician by appointment through your local CHP area office year round.  

Buckle Up, Every Trip, Every Time  

Buckling up is the single most effective way to protect yourself in the event of a crash, so parents need to make sure they’re setting a good example for children. Always buckle up for every trip. Your tweens and teens are watching too. It doesn’t matter if you’re going across town or on a cross-country road trip. Buckle up and talk about the importance of buckling up with your family.  

If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one in a car accident caused by a dangerous or distracted driver in San Diego or anywhere in Southern California, contact the skilled and proven team at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, Inc. at 1.800.GO.HARRIS for a free case consultation today.