For Immediate Release:
September 13, 2019

Contact:
Tim Weisberg
OTS Marketing and Public Affairs
timothy.weisberg@ots.ca.gov
(916) 509-3020

The OTS encourages parents to choose “the right seat”

Sept. 15-21 is Child Passenger Safety Week

Elk Grove, Calif. – Next week is Child Passenger Safety Week, and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is working with law enforcement, public health departments and other community organizations to educate parents on the correct use of car seats.

From Sept. 15-21, certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be available across the state to show parents and caregivers how to choose, properly install and use the right car seat.

Child Passenger Safety Week wraps up Sept. 21 with National Seat Check Saturday, when organizations will be hosting car seat check events statewide.

“We all want children to be as safe as possible wherever they go,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “Using car seats the right way is extra assurance that children are comfortable and protected riding in the car.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 46% of car seats are misused.

“Even if you believe you are using a car seat the right way, double checking never hurts,” Director Rooney said. “Agencies we partner with are here to help make sure you are doing everything correctly.”

The OTS offers tips for parents and caregivers when choosing the right car seat:

  • Keep your child in a rear-facing seat as long as possible. California law requires children under 2 years old, less than 40 inches tall and weighing less than 40 pounds to be in a rear-facing car
  • Do not rush to move a child into a booster seat. Children under the age of 8 and under 4’9” tall must be in a car or booster seat.
  • Register your seat on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website so the manufacturer can notify you about recalls or safety
  • Children under the age of 13 should always ride in the back

To find a car seat program in your area, visit the OTS website for a statewide listing. You can also visit your local California Highway Patrol (CHP) office. You can find the nearest office in your area on the CHP website.

The OTS administers funding for traffic safety programs statewide with the goal of reducing crashes that result in deaths, injuries, and economic losses. The OTS is a department under the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA).

 


 

 

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