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Press Release

CALIFORNIA LAUNCHES CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY WEEK
New Law Requires Older Children to Ride Properly Restrained

 

SACRAMENTO – California kicked off Child Passenger Safety Week with officials from the Davis Administration, the California Highway Patrol, and the Office of Traffic Safety at David Lubin Elementary School today. The annual observance, scheduled February 10-16, 2002, is designed to remind parents and caregivers of the importance of properly securing children in vehicles.

“Traffic safety is about saving lives and reducing injuries,” said Maria Contreras-Sweet, Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. “Governor Davis has demonstrated California’s level of commitment to keeping our children safe with this expanded booster seat law. It is our hope that California families from Redding to San Diego will be safer on each and every ride.”

Representatives of the Department of Motor Vehicles and Department of Health Services joined Secretary Contreras-Sweet at today’s press conference, which also included the announcement of winners of a local student traffic safety poster contest.

As of January 1, California’s occupant protection law requires children to ride properly restrained in safety seats or booster seats up to six years of age or 60 pounds. A 1999 National SAFE KIDS study indicates that only five percent of booster seat-age children ride in booster seats.

The Office of Traffic Safety will fund more than $9 million in occupant protection grants during 2001-2002, which call for public education programs, child safety seat inspections, no-cost safety seats and training for safety seat technicians and law enforcement. Current programs include the ‘Give Em A Boost’ campaign, a collaborative effort between the CHP, OTS and Department of Health Services.

Following are winners of the student traffic safety poster contest highlighting the use of seat belts and safety seats:

4th through 6th Grade
From David Lubin Elmentary School: Joshua Cantu, grade 6; Clair Curley, grade 6; Angela Cammack, grade 6; Shelby Heinzer, grade 5. From St. Robert Elementary School: Katie Coleman, grade 4.

Kindergarten through 3rd Grade
From David Lubin Elementary School: Summer Schlageter, grade 3; Aria Palmieri, grade 3; Andrea Payne, grade 2; Paloma Glasser, grade 2; From St. Robert Elementary School: Rafael Aguilar, grade 1.

Winners of the contest and their families received booster seats, safety seats and bicycle helmets.

A series of child safety seat checkup events are planned throughout the greater Sacramento area during Child Passenger Safety Week. Parents can attend one of the following free checks to have their seats inspected for proper installation and use:


Saturday, February 9th
Toys-R-Us, 1919 Arden Way, 10 a.m. to Noon, Sacramento

Monday, February 11th
Rocklin Fire Department Station #2, 3401 Crest Drive, 11 a.m. to1 p.m., Rocklin

Wednesday, February 13th
Folsom Fire Department Station # 35, 48 Natoma Street, 11 a.m.to1 p.m., Folsom

Thursday, February 14th
Sacramento Metro Fire Department Station #50, 2 to 4 p.m., Elk Grove

Saturday, February 16th
Roseville Fire Department Station #1, 401 Oak Street, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Roseville
Department of Motor Vehicles, 4700 Broadway, 10 a.m. to Noon, Sacramento.

For more information on upcoming safety seat checkup events, contact the California Highway Patrol at (916) 657-7202.

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