Child Passenger Safety Week and Checkpoint
The Following is from our friends at Kingsport Fire Department:
It’s Child Passenger Safety Week! Is Your Child In The Right Car Seat?
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old. Many times deaths and injuries can be prevented by proper use of car seats, boosters, and seat belts. Child Passenger Seat Technicians from the Kingsport Fire Department, Kingsport Police Department and the Kingsport Life Saving Crew will hold a Child Passenger Seat Checkpoint at Fire Station 2 near the corner of Ft Henry Dr and Center St on September 19, 2013 from 2-6pm.
Car seats, booster seats and seat belts save lives and offer the best protection for children in crashes.
· Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old.
· During the 5-year period from 2007 to 2011, 3,661 children were killed in car crashes. In addition, an estimated 634,000 children were injured, more than the population of Boston, Massachusetts.
· Based on U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash data in 2011, on average, nearly 2 children under 13 were killed and 338 were injured every day while riding in cars, SUVs, pickups and vans.
· In 2011, over one third of children killed in car crashes were not in car seats or wearing seat belts.
Car seats work best when used correctly.
· According to NHTSA, approximately 9,874 children 4 and younger have been saved from 1975 to 2011 by child restraints. Data also shows 8,616 of these children were saved by car seats alone.
· In 2011, among children 4 and younger in cars, an estimated 314 lives were saved by car restraints.
· Car seats reduce the likelihood of an infant being killed by 71 percent and a toddler by 54 percent in a car, and 58 percent and 59 percent for infants and toddlers in SUVs, pickups and vans.
· All 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have laws requiring children to be restrained while riding in cars. Some States now require kids to ride in appropriate car seats or booster seats until age 9.
· Failure to read and carefully follow the installation instructions included with the car seat as well as those in the vehicle owner’s manual can lead to incorrect installation, exposing a child passenger to grave risk of serious injury or death in a crash.
Tennessee State Law T.C.A. 55-9-602
- Children under one (1) year of age, or any child, weighing twenty (20) pounds or less, must be secured in a child passenger restraint system in a rear facing position, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards, in a rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions. (Note: If the child safety seat has a higher rear-facing weight rating, usually 30 or 35 pounds, it may be continued to be used in a rear-facing position so long as the child’s weight permits. Check the manufacturer’s instructions accompanying the child safety seat for more information.)
- Children age one (1) through age three (3), and weighing more than twenty (20) pounds, must be secured in a child safety seat in a forward facing position in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.
- Children age four (4) through age eight (8), and measuring less than four feet nine inches (4’9″) in height, must be secured in a belt-positioning booster seat system, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions. (Note: If the child is not between age four (4) and age eight (8), but is less than four feet nine inches (4’9″) in height, he/she must still use a seat belt system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.)
- Children age nine (9) through age twelve (12), or any child through twelve (12) years of age, measuring four feet nine inches (4’9″) or more in height, must be secured in a seat belt system. It is recommended that any such child be placed in the rear seat, if available. (Note: If the child is not between age nine (9) and age twelve (12), but is four feet nine inches (4’9″) or more in height, he/she must still use a seat belt system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.)
- Children age thirteen (13) through age fifteen (15) must be secured by using a passenger restraint system, including safety belts, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.
- Provision is made for the transportation of children in medically prescribed modified child restraints. A copy of Doctor’s prescription is to be carried in the vehicle utilizing the modified child restraint at all times.
- The driver of the car is responsible for making sure that children under age sixteen (16) are properly restrained and may be charged and fined $50.00 for violation of the law. If the child’s parent or legal guardian is present in the car but not driving, the parent or legal guardian is responsible for making sure that the child is properly transported and may be fined for non-compliance.
- Police officers observing violations of this law are permitted to stop drivers and take enforcement action. PLEASE PROPERLY RESTRAIN CHILDREN
For more information go to http://www.safercar.gov/parents/RightFit.htm
Thank You,
Barry J Brickey
Public Education Officer
Kingsport Fire Department
130 Island Street
Kingsport, TN 37660
Ph: 423-224-2820 or 423-229-9440
