The Petaluma Police Department and California Highway Patrol (CHP) have joined forces to provide essential car seat installation support and guidance for parents and caregivers during Child Passenger Safety Week.
Gathered collectively with the safety and well-being of the community's children in mind, the officers are ready to assist in properly installing car safety seats. According to Traffic Sergeant Walt Spiller, "Children are vulnerable to injury in a crash when they are in the wrong type of car seat for their age and size or if the car seat is installed improperly." It is in these moments, full of concern and potential confusion, that the Petaluma Police Department extends its hand and expertise to provide reassurance of the optimal safety for the young passengers of their city.
This initiative is especially poignant considering the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) revelation that nearly half of car seats, a staggering 46%, are misused. These statistics highlight the ever-present need for education and assistance in securing the safety of children in vehicles.
Child Passenger Safety Week concludes on September 23 with National Seat Check Saturday, an event created to further inspire awareness and encourage proper seat installation. The CHP is hosting a Car Seat Check event at the Community Center in Petaluma at 320 N McDowell Blvd, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to ensure every attending parent or caregiver leaves with the confidence that their child is safe while traveling.
Implementation of correct safety measures is a shared responsibility. California law dictates that all children under two years old must ride in a rear-facing car seat, unless they exceed 40 pounds or 40 inches in height. Advisories further urge parents to maintain the use of rear- and forward-facing seats for as long as possible. Fitting a child with a booster seat is allowed once they reach eight years old or a height of 4 feet, 9 inches. Of course, a properly fitted safety belt must always secure them.
Support and guidance do not end with Child Passenger Safety Week for parents and caregivers of California – additional resources exist for the ongoing protection of the state's youth. The Office of Traffic Safety website offers the ability to search for car seat programs in every county. Additionally, local CHP Area Offices are available to schedule free child safety seat inspections.
Funding for this program is generously provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
