National Child Passenger Safety Week

Every year children suffer needless injuries in motor vehicle crashes. According to a study by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, children ages 4 to 8 who use booster seats are 59 percent less likely to be injured in a car crash than children restrained only by a safety belt.

 

National Child Passenger Safety Week
The Massachusetts State Police are joining with the Governor's Highway Safety Bureau, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Ad Council and others this year to commemorate National Child Passenger Safety Week (February 12 th through 18 th, 2006). The primary goal is to remind all parents and other adults responsible for children traveling in motor vehicles: if the children are less than 4'9" tall, they need to be in a booster seat. Only an estimated 10 to 20 percent of children ages 4 to 8 use booster seats.

As part of National Child Passenger Safety Week, the State Police held a Child Booster Seat Demonstration Press Event on Monday, February 13, 2006 at State Police Headquarters in Framingham. Sgt. Ross Panacopoulos of the State Police Traffic Programs Section and Lt. Carmelo Ayuso, both Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians, conducted a demonstration with a five year-old child and a nine year-old child to show why the child booster seat is a safer way for children to travel until they properly fit the vehicle lap and shoulder belt.

State Police Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be involved in the following event during Child Passenger Safety Week:

  • National Child Passenger Safety Week
    February 18 th & 19 th - Boston Kids Expo held at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston from 9 am to 6 pm on Saturday the 18 th and 10 am to 6 pm on Sunday the 19 th. Troopers will be demonstrating seatbelt/child safety seat effectiveness with the "Rollover Simulator" and talking to parents about child safety seat issues.

In addition to these special events during Child Passenger Safety Week, the State Police currently have 30 nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians available throughout the year to conduct child safety seat checks for parents who request them. To schedule an appointment with a State Police CPS technician, call the State Police CPS Hotline at 508-988-7090.

For more information about Child Passenger Safety Week and the proper use of booster seats, visit http://www.safercar.gov/parents/carseats.htm.