Governor Davis Proclaims February 11-17 as California's Child Passenger Safety Week; Parents Encouraged to Have Safety Seats Checked for Proper Installation

    SACRAMENTO, Calif.--Feb. 9, 2001--Governor Davis has proclaimed February 11-17, 2001 as California's Child Passenger Safety Week. California will join other states across the nation for the weeklong observance, sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). California's Child Passenger Safety Week effort, lead by the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency (BT&H), California Highway Patrol, Office of Traffic Safety and California SAFE KIDS, is intended to raise awareness of the importance of proper child passenger safety restraint.
    California continues to be a leader in traffic safety and child passenger safety is no exception. "Nothing is more important than our children," said California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency Secretary Maria Contreras-Sweet. "Californians have embraced our strong child restraint laws, which is why we continue to lead the nation with a child restraint use of more than 92 percent."
    California now has the nation's strongest child passenger occupant protection law according to a state-by-state analysis conducted by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. Beginning January 1, 2002, California law will require all children under 6 years old or weighing less than 60 pounds to use a child safety seat. This is an expansion of California's current law, requiring children under 4 years of age and weighing less than 40 pounds to ride restrained. California will be the first state to transition to the 6 years or 60 pound requirement.
    Although California's law is at the forefront of child occupant protection, parents still need education regarding proper safety seat use and installation. The California SAFE KIDS Coalition reports approximately 87 percent of child safety seats in California are misused in some way, and correct placement and harnessing is critical to ensure adequate protection.
    Free safety seat checks will be held across the state during Child Passenger Safety Week in an effort to educate parents about proper safety seat use and installation. For information on safety seat check locations, parents can contact the California Highway Patrol or California SAFE KIDS at 877/KID-S14U or visit their web site at www.california-safekids.com.