GOHS Kicks Off Child Passenger Safety Seat Week

Just a reminder this is Child Passenger Safety week in Georgia.

The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and the Georgia Department of Public Health remind all parents and caregivers that Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Week is the perfect time to make sure their child is riding in a properly installed safety or booster seat.

Local health departments, sheriff’s offices, police departments, Safe Kids chapters and other partners will host free car seat checks and classes across the state during CPS week, which began Sunday 15 and culminates with National Seat Check tomorrow, Saturday, September 21.

Spokesman Robert Hydrick says it’s important for parents to understand the importance of having your child in the correct size safety seat.

“Anytime you h ave a new baby or you have a new child that needs to go from a baby car seat, to a toddler seat to a forward-facing seat, then you can call your local fitting station and they can do that for you for free,” Hydrick said.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data shows 46 percent of all child passenger safety seats are not installed correctly or misused.

In addition, children under 13 were involved in a traffic crash every 32 seconds in 2017.

Georgia state law requires child passengers to be restrained in a car seat or booster seat appropriate for their height and weight until the age of 8.

“In Georgia, any child under the age of 8 must be riding in an approved seat for their age,” he said. “If you have a child that’s taller than 4’9″, then they are big enough to wear a regular adult seat belt.”

In our area you can make an appointment at the Hartwell Post of the Georgia State Patrol, the Franklin or Hart County Sheriff’s offices or the Royston, Lavonia, and Hartwell Police departments.

Georgia parents and caregivers can also visit https://www.gahighwaysafety.org to find a fitting station near them where they can have their car seats checked.