Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Governor Proclaims Child Safety Week
Highlights Booster Seat’s Role to Save Young Lives
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt signed a proclamation today declaring February 12-18, 2006 as Child Passenger Safety Week to encourage adequate protection for every Missouri child when they are traveling in a motor vehicle.
“There is no good reason not to protect our children when driving. They are our most vulnerable passengers and rely on parents or caregivers to keep them safe,” Blunt said. “I encourage every Missouri driver to always ensure children are properly restrained, and never compromise their safety.”
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children over two years of age. In Missouri, 20 children eight years of age and under were killed and 2,725 were injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2004. Many of these children were not restrained in the vehicle by a child safety seat or a booster seat.
“Children ages four to eight are generally too small for adult safety belts to fit them properly,” said Leanna Depue, director of highway safety for the Missouri Department of Transportation. “Children in this age group need a boost to ensure the safety belt will fit securely across their chests, and low and snug across their hips.”
According to a study by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, children ages four to eight who use booster seats are 59 percent less likely to be injured in a car crash than children who are restrained only by a safety belt. However, only 10 to 20 percent of those children are actually in booster seats.
As children grow, how they sit safely in a car, truck, van or SUV changes. Follow the 4 Steps for Kids for the best protection:
- Use rear-facing infant seats from birth to at least one year of age and at least 20 pounds;
- Use forward-facing toddler seats from age one and 20 pounds to about age four and 40 pounds;
- Use booster seats from about age four to at least age eight – unless the child is 4’9” or taller; and
- Use safety belts at age eight or older or taller than 4’9”.
It is always important to remember that children age 12 and under are safest when properly buckled in the back seat of a vehicle.
For more information about child passenger safety visit www.saveMOlives.com or call MoDOT’s Highway Safety Division at 1-800-800-BELT.
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