State police, AAA Northeast promoting National Child Passenger Safety Week

EAST PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island State Police is partnering with AAA Northeast to promote National Child Passenger Safety Week, which starts Sunday, Sept. 23, and concludes with a National Seat Check Saturday event at AAA’s new East Providence office on Saturday, Sept. 29.

“Every day, at least two children die and nearly 500 others are injured in motor vehicle crashes nationwide,” said Col. Ann C. Assumpico, superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and director of the Department of Public Safety. “Many of these deaths and injuries can be prevented if children are properly secured in car seats, booster seats and seat belts.”

Rhode Island laws require all motorists – including drivers and passengers – to buckle up. The law further specifies that children under age 8 must be properly restrained in the back seat in an approved car seat, booster seat or restraint appropriate for the child’s age, height and weight.

“We are grateful to our General Assembly in Rhode Island for strengthening the child passenger safety law last year, now requiring caregivers to keep children restrained in rear-facing seats until a minimum of age two and 30 pounds,” said Diana Imondi, AAA Northeast’s Manager of Traffic Safety Programs and Child Passenger Safety Instructor. “The American Academy of Pediatrics’ policy recommends caregivers transport children in rear-facing car seats as long as height or weight limitations for the car seat manufacturer allows to provide maximum protection in the event of a crash.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the death and injury rate for children involved in motor vehicle crashes has decreased significantly in the past 40 years, in large part due to the adoption of seat belt laws in all 50 states.

However, motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death for all children under age 13. That is why the Rhode Island State Police and AAA Northeast are working together to remind all motorists to ensure that their children are buckled up every time they get into a car.

They offer the following tips and reminders:

• Make sure everyone in your vehicle is buckled up, no matter how short the trip.

• Children under age 13 should always ride in the back seat for maximum protection.

• Know how to use car seats, booster seats and seat belts.

• Never use a rear-facing infant seat in the front seat of a vehicle, since it increases their risk of death or injury if the passenger side airbag deploys.

Parents and caregivers are invited to have their child car seats inspected and questions answered during a free Seat Check Saturday event on September 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the AAA building, located on Wampanoag Trail at 10 River St., East Providence. Rhode Island State Police Troopers and other certified technicians will be available to ensure seats are installed properly and children are safely restrained in the proper car or booster seat for their size.

The Rhode Island State Police and many local police departments also have certified car seat technicians available for car seat checks at other times. Lifespan offers the following link of locations offering car seat inspections throughout the year: https:// www. lifespan. org/ centers- services/ 4- safety-program/seats-4-safety-program/rhode-island-locations.