New Internet-Based Service For Child Safety Seat Information

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today announced a new Internet-based service designed to help families obtain child safety seat information.

"I am pleased to see yet another resource to help parents make better decisions about protecting their children while traveling,'' said Secretary Mineta. "The information on these web pages will afford greater safety to children by guiding parents and caregivers to the right choices of safety restraint for their children's needs."

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes each year kill 1,800 children ages 14 and under and injure more than 280,000. Four out of five child safety seats are used incorrectly, the agency estimates.

The new addition to NHTSA's Internet website is one-stop shopping for parents and caregivers who want to learn about the correct use and installation of child safety seats.

The website is designed to:

• Provide recommendations for the correct use of each type of child safety seat to help consumers select the most appropriate child restraint system.
• Provide a description and list of various features available on the child restraints that may make them easier to use and install.
• Provide a current listing of all new child safety seats available.
• Provide a list of model year 2001 vehicles with child safety seat features.
• Provide a child safety seat dictionary of terms.

To access NHTSA's new Internet service, go to http://www.nhtsa.dot.govand click on the ``Child Safety Seats'' icon which will take you to the child passenger safety section and which, in turn, will link you to a comprehensive source of information, tips and recommendations. The information also includes dozens of full-color photographs of the different types of child safety seats, with step-by-step installation guidelines.

Additional child passenger safety information also is available toll-free through NHTSA's Auto Safety Hotline, 1-888-DASH-2-DOT. Auto Safety Hotline representatives are available to answer questions from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday. Messages can be left on tape 24 hours a day.

Also, as part of today's announcement, a demonstration of the NHTSA Internet-based service was presented at the Lifesavers Conference, in Denver. Lifesavers is dedicated to reducing the number of deaths and injuries on the nation's highways.

NHTSA does not endorse any one brand or type of child safety seat over another. Child safety seats must be certified by the manufacturer to meet NHTSA safety performance standards or they cannot be sold.

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