Child Passenger Safety
The Department of Transportation Safety, through the "Drive Smart" brand provides statewide check-up events, technician classes
and educational presentations throughout the year. We employ two full time
child passenger safety specialists and most of the employees are nationally
certified technicians. At check-up events, technicians inspect car seats
for correct installation and educate the parents on proper usage of their
seat.
If used correctly, child safety seats are 71% effective
in reducing infant deaths, 54% effective in reducing toddler deaths, and 67% effective in reducing
the need for hospitalization.
(Source: NHTSA)
Booster seats provide an extra step between child safety seats and seatbelts. Boostersare intended to lift the child up off the vehicle seat to improve the fit of the adult lap and shoulder seatbelt. The lap portion of the belt should fit low on the hips or high on the thighs and the shoulder portion of the belt should be snug across the collarbone. An improper fit of the adult safety belt can cause the lap belt to ride up over the stomach and the shoulder belt to cut across the neck, potentially exposing the child to serious abdominal or neck injury.
According to Partners for Child Passenger Safety, more than 90% of 4 to 8-year-old children who were seriously injured in a crash were not restrained in a booster seat.
The Department of Transportation Safety maintains the Buckle That Child Hotline. Motorists may anonymously call the hotline to report the Kentucky license plate of a vehicle with an unrestrained child. An educational packet with child safety restraint tips is sent to the registered owner of the vehicle. Just call
1-888-235-8KID
To Find the next checkpoint in your area...
Click here
To Find out what every parent needs to know about child safety seats...
Click here
If you have other questions, please contact our office and ask to speak with someone about child passenger safety.
