Missouri law enforcement agencies join together for National Child Passenger Safety Week
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Jefferson City Police Department along with other statewide law enforcement agencies and safety advocates are joining together for national child passenger safety week.
The campaign will start Sunday Sept.18th and run through Saturday Sept.24th.
The effort from the agencies is aimed at reducing serious injuries and fatalities for children involved in crashes and to increase compliance with Missouri’s child safety seat laws.
Authorities say, Missouri's law requires all children under the age of eight to be in an appropriate child safety or booster seat. If the child is at least 80 pounds or more, and at least 4foot 9 inches tall, the child can then be placed in a properly attached and secured safety belt.
According to Drivinglaws.org, in Missouri, A child restraint or booster seat violation will result in the driver being fined up to $50, plus court costs.
In 2021, Missouri State Highway Patrol says 14 children under the age of eight were killed in traffic crashes and another 1,749 were injured.
Troopers also issued citations to 1,185 drivers who failed to secure children less than eight-years-old in a child restraint/booster seat in 2021.
Furthermore, troopers issued citations to an additional 184 drivers who failed to secure a child 80 pounds or more and over 4 foot 9 inches tall in a seat belt in 2021.
As a reminder, Law Enforcement says there are many styles of child safety seats parents can choose from.
Infant seats and convertible child seats should face rearward in a reclined position and a booster seat is used when the child outgrows other safety seats.
The booster seat faces forward and utilizes a seat belt . The lap belt should stay low and snug across the lower hip/upper thigh area and the shoulder belt should not cross the face or the neck.
Parents can also check manufacturer's labels for weight limits and other safety information.
For safety reasons, the Missouri State Highway Patrol discourages the purchase of child safety seats at a garage sale or other secondhand outlets. Also, a safety seat that has been in a vehicle during a traffic crash should be replaced.
Law enforcement says, there is no one "safest" child safety seat and parents should use the one that fits their child, fits their vehicles correctly and one they will use correctly every time.
For more information about the proper use of child restraint systems or to schedule a child safety seat inspection, families can contact the nearest Missouri State Highway Patrol troop headquarters and ask for the public information and education officer, or visit www.seatcheck.org.
