CHP promotes Child Passenger Safety Week

California Highway Patrol is partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to promote Child Passenger Safety Week, beginning Sunday and ending Sept. 26.

Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children age 13 and under, CHP said in a release. In 2017, NHTSA data showed that 37 percent of the children killed in car crashes were unrestrained.

“The pandemic has heightened the focus on children’s health and safety for many parents and caregivers,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said. “Keeping children safe in your vehicle for every single trip is just as important as ever.”

California law requires that all children under 8 years of age be properly restrained in an appropriate child safety seat in the back seat of a vehicle. Children under 2 years of age must ride in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat. Children who are at least 8 years old or 4 feet, 9 inches tall should continue to ride in the back seat in either a safety seat, such as a booster seat, or lap/shoulder belt.

Children should be kept in an appropriate child seat until they reach the upper height and weight recommended by the car seat manufacturer.

NHTSA has found almost 60 percent of children’s safety seats are used incorrectly. Useful information about the proper seat choice and installation tips are available at https:// www.chp.ca.gov/Programs-Services/ Programs/Child-Safety-Seats.

Contact your local CHP office for safety seat installation assistance and inspections.