While the seat belt use rate in California is 96.2%, child passenger safety remains a critical program to ensure children are properly restrained in child safety seats. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 60% of car seats are used incorrectly. Grant programs focus on a variety of activities to educate parents and guardians on child safety seat laws, including child safety seat check-ups, education classes on using and properly installing the right car seat, and providing child safety seats to families in need, as well as Child Passenger Safety Technician training and certification courses. Increased enforcement of seat belt laws and educating teens about buckling up are additional countermeasures to encourage vehicle occupants to use seat belts.
OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROGRAM AREA GOALS
- To increase seat belt compliance
- To increase child safety seat usage
- To reduce the number of vehicle occupants killed under the age of eight
- To reduce the number of vehicle occupants injured under the age of eight
