NHTSA, ORPD observe Child Passenger Safety Week
The Oak Ridge Police Department is checking children’s car seats as part of Child Passenger Safety Week.
If parents and caregivers would like to have their car seats checked, they can call the ORPD at 865-425-4399 to schedule a time to stop by headquarters at 200 S. Tulane Ave. during normal business hours, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A scheduled special car-seat check event will occur this Friday (Sept. 26) from noon to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of Choices Resource Center, 170 Raleigh Road.
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Choices Resource Center and Safe Kids Worldwide are sponsors in addition to the ORPD.
Every year, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration observes Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs this year from Sept. 21-27.
“The scheduled-checkpoint event is for parents and caregivers to receive free instruction on how to install and use the right car seats for their children,” Oak Ridge Police Lt. Shannah Newman said in a news release.
“Unfortunately, many parents are overconfident about their car seats, and they think they’re protecting their kids, but almost half of car seats are either the wrong seat for the child’s age and size, or the seats are installed incorrectly,” Newman said. “That puts children at risk.”
According to NHTSA, motor-vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children.
Every day in 2023, an average of three children under 14 were killed in crashes, and another 442 were injured.
“We know parents love their kids,” Newman said. “So they’ll do everything in their power to protect them. An easy way to do that is to double-check their car seats.”
When it comes to child passengers, there is a right seat for every age and developmental stage.
Whether it’s a rear-facing or forward-facing car seat, a booster seat, or a seat belt, a certified child passenger safety technician can put parents’ minds at ease by confirming which seat is correct for their children and showing them how to install the seat correctly.
“Children should stay in each seat and position until they outgrow the height or weight limits for the car seat. It’s also important for all children under 13 to ride in the back seat.”
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to register car seats with the manufacturer so they can be notified in the event of a recall.
They can download NHTSA’s SaferCar app, which allows users to save their vehicle, car seat, and tire info in a virtual garage.
If the saved equipment is included in a safety recall, the app will send a notification.
For more information on child passenger safety, go to NHTSA.gov/therightseat.
For information on ORPD, visit oakridgetn.gov/police.
