Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard announced today that his office is hosting a series of free car seat checks during Child Passenger Safety Week. This week is dedicated to educating parents, grandparents, and guardians about the importance of correctly choosing, installing, and using a car seat, booster seat, and seat belts.
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading killer of children, and the latest research from NHTSA shows that nearly half (46%) of car seats are misused. However, using age- and size-appropriate car seats and installing the seat correctly are the best ways to reduce these deaths.
NHTSA recommends keeping children rear-facing as long as possible, up to the top height and weight allowed by the particular seats. It’s the best way to keep them safe. Once a child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, he or she is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether. After outgrowing the forward-facing car seat, a child should be placed in a booster seat until tall enough to properly fit in a seat belt.
Booster seats are an essential step between car seats and seat belts. These transitional seats position the seat belt so that it fits properly over the stronger parts of your child’s body. Don’t feel pressured to put your child in a seat belt too soon. If your child is ready to use a seat belt, ensure the seat belt fits correctly. Bottom line: The safest place for all kids under 13 is in the back seat.
The Erie County Sheriff’s Office encourages you to take an hour or so out of this safety week to double and triple check your child’s car seat or booster seat, and ensure that it’s the correct seat for your child’s age and size and that it’s installed correctly. If parents are not sure about the seat’s installation or using the correct seat, certified technicians from the agency will be available throughout the week at different substations throughout Erie County.
All car seat checks will be 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the following dates and locations.
· September 20 – Clarence Town Hall, 5 Town Place, Clarence
· September 21 – Alden Town Hall, 3311 Wende Rd., Alden
· September 22 – Elma Town Hall, 1600 Bowen Road, Elma
· September 23 – Town of Colden, 8812 Rte. 240, Colden
· September 24 – North Collins Town Hall, 10571 Main St., North Collins
· September 25 – Village of Springville, 65 Franklin St.
The Sheriff’s Office also encourages parents, grandparents, and caregivers to visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats for free online resources about passenger safety, car seat types, and recommendations.
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