In Peru, during National Child Passenger Safety Week, a car seat check event highlighted a crucial issue, out of 30 car seats inspected, only 4 were installed correctly. This initiative, part of a nationwide campaign spearheaded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, underscores the importance of proper car seat use. Tragically, traffic crashes remain a leading cause of death for children, with over a thousand fatalities last year. The NHTSA emphasizes the need for correct car seat installation and usage to ensure child safety. Local parents are urged to utilize ongoing services offered by the Peru Police Department to check car seat installations. For more tips and resources, including the Proper Car Seat Installation, visit NHTSA’s website.
Every September, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) partners with local communities to observe Child Passenger Safety Week, which includes National Seat Check Saturday. Peru Police Department’s car seat check event on Saturday in Peru was a success, according to Community Service Officer Blake Frund. Child Passenger Safety Technicians provided hands-on education to all participants to ensure children were in the right seat for their ages and sizes, and that car seats were installed and used correctly.
Technicians inspected 30 car seats, and only 4 were installed properly, said Frund. One car seat expired in 2016, and the parent did not know that car seats expire. “This is why we encourage parents or guardians to come to the police department and get their car seat checked.”
The free event was part of Child Passenger Safety Week, which ran from September 15th to 21st. NHTSA wants parents and caregivers to know that traffic crashes are a leading cause of death for children. In 2022, there were 1,129 children killed in crashes — an average of three per day. “One of the simplest ways to protect your child passengers is to make sure they’re in the right seats and that the seats are installed correctly,” Frund said. Parents at the event were also encouraged to register their car seats with the manufacturers to be notified of recalls. NHTSA offers the SaferCar app to make getting recall notifications easier.
You don’t have to wait for the next National Seat Check Saturday to make sure their car seats are installed properly. Peru Police Department has car seat technicians at the police department Monday-Friday 8 AM to 4 PM. It’s not just for new parents — every parent and caregiver should make sure their children are in the right seat, said Frund.