Next week is National Child Passenger Safety Week (September 23 – 29, 2018), ending in Saturday’s day-long National Car Seat Check Campaign.
September 23-29 is Child Passenger Safety Week; Seat Check Saturday
This annual drive to promote keeping children safe as they ride in motor vehicles is sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as well as Illinois’ National Safety Council (NSC) and other safety advocates including SafeKids.Org.
There will be all sorts of public service advertisements and social media messages encouraging adults to be aware of the dangers facing children anytime they are transported in a moving vehicle. Everything from infographics and billboards to suggested Facebook messages have been provided to help carry the message across the country. Materials are available in English and Spanish.
It’s an important message. Too many kids die premature deaths in preventable accidents involving traffic accidents.
From the statistics we know that each day in this country, two (2) children under the age of 13 years are killed while riding as passengers. Car accidents remain the leading cause of death for kids between the ages of 1 – 13.
For more, see: “The Primary Cause of Fatal Child Pedestrian Accidents is the Vehicle” and “Danger of Fatal Child Pedestrian Accidents as Kids Go Back to School.”
Goal: Correct Use of Car Seats and Seat Belts for Children
Next week’s focus will be educating all those who have minors as passengers in their vehicles on how important it is to have these kids properly secured in safety equipment before any driving begins.
Parents, teachers, coaches, nannies, babysitters, grandparents, siblings, and other caretakers must be aware of the state laws requiring safety seats and safety belts for infants, toddlers, children, tweens, and teenagers. Illinois, Indiana, as well as our neighboring states all have statutes mandating children be buckled into safety belts, and that children under the age of 9 be protected in the appropriate car safety seat.
All caregivers must understand and equip their vehicles with the proper car seat as well as the correct safety belts. Car seats vary depending upon the age and size of the child, from booster seats to forward-facing to rear-facing car seats.
The theme of this year’s campaign is “The Right Seat.” The message urges everyone to understand the importance of having the right seat for the right child, and how as the child grows, the type of safety seat will change.
Of particular importance are kids between the ages of 8 – 14 years: they are at the highest risk of dying in a motor vehicle accident.
National Seat Check Day: Saturday, September 29, 2018
On Saturday, September 29, 2018, there will be events all across Indiana, Illinois, and the rest of the country offering caregivers the opportunity to come and have their safety protections reviewed by a safety professional.
On National Seat Check Day, it will be free to all parents and caregivers to have (1) their safety protections assessed for the individual needs of their children (and any others who may be riding in their cars, trucks, or SUVs) as well as (2) to have someone make sure that the car seats are properly installed in the vehicle. If the car seat has been recalled, this information will be shared.
Free Local Inspections by Certified Technicians
Locally, caregivers may find a very convenient Seat Check Event, such as the Car Seat Safety Checks that will be offered at the Skokie Farmer’s Market. Across both Indiana and Illinois, Head Start offices will be offering free checks.
Watch the local news coverage for more information about the closest place to have a free check by a certified technician that day.
More Statistics Provided by the Department of Transportation
Lives lost and injuries
- Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children.
- Every 33 seconds in 2016, 1 child under the age of 13 was involved in a crash.
- From 2012 to 2016, there were 3,268 children under age 13 killed in car crashes. These numbers have been increasing steadily since 2014.
- On average, nearly 2 children under 13 were killed every day in 2016 while riding in cars, SUVs, pickups, and vans.
- From 2012 to 2016, there were 1,132 “tweens” (8 to 14 years old) killed in passenger vehicles.
- In 2016, the 8-12 age group had the highest number of fatalities (262, or 36%) among children, which is an 11-percent increase from 2015. Of those who were killed, almost 50 percent were unbuckled.
- In 2016, over one-third (35%) of children under age 13 killed in car crashes were not restrained in car seats, booster seats, or seat belts.
- Statistically, more crashes occur during “school hours” (during the day, Monday through Friday).
Additional Tween Statistics
- From 2012 to 2016, there were 1,692 children 8 to 14 years old killed in passenger vehicles.
- Fatalities of 8- to 14-year-olds increased 4 percent in 2016 from 2015, and increased 12 percent from 2012 to 2016.
- In 2016, over half of 8- to 14-year-olds killed in crashes were not wearing a seat belt.
- Of the 8- to 14-year-olds killed in car crashes in 2016, 26 percent were sitting in the front seat, and 45 percent of those children were unbuckled.
Booster seats and seat belts work best when used correctly
- In 2016, over half of 8 and 9 year old passenger vehicle occupants (56% and 55%) killed in crashes were not wearing a seat belt.
- According to NHTSA data, in 2015, about 25.8 percent of children age 4 to 7 were prematurely moved to seat belts, when they should have been riding in booster seats.
Defense Tactics in Accident Claims Involving Children
Sadly, there is a secondary reason to have vehicle safety inspections to make sure that children are properly protected as passengers in either car seats or safety belts. Of course, the primary reason is to keep them safe.
However, if there is an accident, those filing claims for injuries to their beloved child must be ready for an aggressive defense seeking to find ways to lessen, if not avoid, liability. One of their tactics will be to investigate the protections given to all the child passengers.
Those seeking justice for injured children who have been severely injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident must expect to have defendants asking things like:
- Was the car seat recalled? If so, why was it still being used?
- Was it the right seat for the victim (age, height, weight)?
- Was it installed in the right way?
Child passengers will suffer injuries in car accidents this year in Indiana and Illinois. Being properly secured in car seats and safety belts helps to minimize their injuries.
Moreover, having an inspection to confirm child passenger safety protections are in order may help in any future claims when wrongdoers question the actions of caregivers in keeping the kids safe.
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Let’s all participate in Child Passenger Safety Week and double-check the safety protocols in our cars, vans, trucks, and SUVs. Please be careful out there!
