HARRISBURG PA – Drivers who regularly transport young children in their vehicles can take advantage of car seat checks scheduled by Pennsylvania government agencies, and area fire companies.
The seat checks are being promoted as part of the state’s observance of National Child Passenger Safety Week. It runs through Saturday ( Sept. 23, 2023), which also is designated as “National Car Seat Check Saturday.”
The free seat check opportunities in Montgomery, Berks, and Chester counties are operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, State Police, the state Traffic Injury Prevention Project, and others. They began locally Sunday (Sept. 17); now three remain on the calendar. Scheduled are:
- Thursday (Sept. 21), 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the State Police Troop L Barracks, 90 Industrial Dr., Hamburg PA (Berks);
- Friday (Sept. 22), 2-6 p.m. at the Honey Brook Fire Company, 679 Firehouse Ln., Honey Brook PA; and
- Saturday (Sept. 23), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Oak Park Elementary School, 500 Squirrel Ln., Lansdale PA.
Child car seats proven for safety, state reports
National statistics show car seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury by up to 71 percent for infants, and 54 percent for toddlers, the state reported.
However, 46 percent of car seats and booster seats are installed or used incorrectly. From January through June 2023 state police personnel conducted 525 child safety seat inspections, and discovered 207 incidents of misuse. They also completed more than 1,000 checks during both 2021 and 2022, and found misuse rates of up to 40 percent.
“Seat belts are your best defense in a crash, but they were created for adults,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said. “It’s important that parents and caregivers take time (during the week) to ensure they are using the right car seat or booster seat for their child’s size and age.”
Pennsylvania’s primary seat belt law requires all occupants younger than 18 to wear a seat belt when riding anywhere in a vehicle. Children younger than 2 must be secured in a rear-facing car seat, and children younger than 4 must be restrained in an approved child safety seat. Children must ride in a booster seat until their 8th birthday.
A secondary law also requires drivers and front-seat passengers 18 or older to buckle up. If motorists are stopped for a traffic violation and are not wearing their seat belt, they can receive a second ticket and second fine.
Because of the potential dangers associated with air bag deployment, children 12 and younger should always ride buckled in a vehicle’s back seat.
Photo from Getty Images on Unsplash+, used by Travels With The Post under license
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