PennDOT, Police Highlight New Child Passenger Safety Law, Urge Motorists to Participate in Seat Checks

PennDOT, Police Highlight New Child Passenger Safety Law, Urge Motorists to
Participate in Seat Checks

9/19/2016-HARRISBURG

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Pennsylvania
State
Police are encouraging motorists to properly restrain children and educate
themselves on the updated child passenger safety law as the agencies mark
National Child Passenger Safety Week on September 18 through September 24.
Additionally, Saturday, September 24 has been designated as "National Seat
Check Saturday."

"PennDOT urges parents and guardians to remain informed as child safety
laws
and seats evolve," PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said. "We encourage
the
public to take advantage of our seat checks and educational materials
throughout the year to ensure that each child gets to their destination
safely."

PennDOT funds resources such as training and educational materials for 171
fitting stations across Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania State Police
check
more than 2,500 seats annually. The checkups are designed to teach drivers
the
proper installation and use of child safety seats.

"A properly installed child safety seat can be the difference in keeping
your
child safe in the event of a crash," said Major Edward C. Hoke, Director,
Bureau of Patrol. "We urge parents and caregivers to take advantage of the
free
safety seat check events being held around the state during the week."

Motorists are reminded that Pennsylvania's primary seat-belt law requires
drivers and passengers under 18 years old to buckle up, and children under
the
age of 4 must be properly restrained in an approved child safety seat.
Children
ages 4 to 8 must be restrained in an appropriate booster seat.

A new Pennsylvania law that went into effect August 2016 requires a child
under
2 years of age be securely fastened in a rear-facing child passenger
restraint
system, which is to be used until the child outgrows the maximum weight and

limits designated by the manufacturer.

In addition, children ages 8 to 18 must be wearing a seat belt when riding
anywhere in the vehicle. Also, drivers and front-seat passengers 18
years-old
or older are required to buckle up. If motorists are stopped for a traffic

violation and are not wearing their seat belt, they can receive a second
ticket
and second fine.

Because of the potential dangers associated with air bag deployment,
children
ages 12 and under should always ride buckled in a vehicle's back seat.

The State Police Bureau of Patrol also offers the following tips:

• Read and follow the car seat and vehicle manufacturers'
instructions;
• Use the car's seat belt to anchor the seat to the car unless you
are
using a child safety seat with the LATCH system;
• Fill out and return the registration card for your seat so you'll
know
if it is recalled because of a problem;
• Make sure the seat's harness fits snugly; and
• Use a tether strap if the seat requires it.

For more information on car seat safety and to get a list of state police
car
seat safety inspection locations and dates, click on the "Public Safety"
link
at www.psp.pa.gov.

To view a list of PennDOT-supported car seat checks and for more child
passenger safety resources, visit PennDOT.gov/safety click on "Traffic
Safety
and Driver Topics" and then "Child Passenger Safety."

MEDIA CONTACT: Ashley Schoch, 717-783-8800 or Adam Reed 717-783-5556


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