States Making Progress on Child Passenger Safety

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Across the country, dramatic improvements are being seen in the child passenger safety effort. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Controlled Intersection Surveys, the number of infants restrained in safety seats has increased from 85 percent in 1996 to 95 percent in 2000, and for children age 1 to 4, restraint use increased from 60 percent in 1996 to 91 percent in 2000. While more work must be done to increase these numbers, this significant achievement is strong evidence that the states' approach is working.

National Association of Governors' Highway Safety Representatives (NAGHSR) Chair Marsha Lembke says the governors highway safety association continues to believe the key to increasing child passenger safety lies in a combination of education, enforcement and legislation. She says that fitting stations and high visibility educational campaigns are making a dramatic difference. ``These education campaigns are very effective when they are complemented with enforcement efforts so the public knows there are serious consequences if they don't properly protect their children.'' Lembke continues, ``Legislation is also part of the solution. States need strong laws as the backbone of their child safety effort.'' Six states (Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland, New Mexico, New Jersey and South Carolina) strengthened their child passenger safety laws in 2001 while legislation has been proposed in many others.

Lembke says credit for the improving numbers goes not only to the states but also to NHTSA and numerous other safety partners including local SAFEKIDS Coalitions. Additionally, she says, ``Credit must be given to corporate America, which has literally donated millions of dollars for educational campaigns and seat distributions. In these challenging economic times, this support has been essential.'' NAGHSR has been a lead partner in Ford Motor Company's Boost America! Campaign, which is providing up to a million booster seats to parents.

Although there is cause for celebration, the states and their safety partners must not become complacent. According to Lembke, ``Much more work needs to be done. The NHTSA numbers also show that only 66 percent of kids age 5-12 are riding properly restrained.'' The highway safety leader concludes, ``The states and their safety partners are clearly on the right track to reducing deaths and injuries to children in vehicle crashes. With improved laws, better enforcement and public education, these senseless tragedies will become much less frequent.''

The Association highlighted just a few of the state activities across the country to mark National Child Passenger Safety Week (CPS Week), but stressed that these types of activities are on-going throughout the year.

* California -- The state's new law requiring all children up to age 6 or under 60 pounds to ride properly restrained in a safety seat will be the cornerstone of the Office of Traffic Safety's CPS Week activities. Educational events will be held throughout the state with law enforcement to focus on the implementation of the new law as well as the distribution and proper fitting of car seats.

* Hawaii -- The Department of Transportation (DOT) will publicize its child passenger safety efforts and resources. These include 70 free community car seat checks and 32 fitting stations to assist parents with the installation of their child safety seat.

* Kansas -- The DOT will hold a major media event featuring Governor Graves announcing initiatives involving fitting stations, seats and other safety measures. The Governor has presented a bill (primary law) that would require the use of safety belts for all occupants under 18 and the required use of a booster seat for those between age 4 and 7 or weighing between 40 and 80 pounds.

* Nevada -- In conjunction with the Boost America! Campaign, Safe Communities partners will conduct an all-inclusive CPS checkpoint in Las Vegas (70 percent of NV's population) for both booster-size and smaller children; no family will be turned away without a proper child seat and fitting.

* North Carolina -- A major media event will occur in Raleigh featuring the state's First Lady. The state is receiving 25,000 free booster seats from the Boost America! Campaign. Parents who have been prescreened by the United Way and qualify for a free seat can come to the event and have the seat installed by a nationally certified child safety seat technician.

* Michigan -- The state will publicize its expanded child passenger safety efforts that specifically target minority, low-income and special needs populations. The Office of Highway Safety Planning has researched other state laws in order to support proposed legislation that would strengthen Michigan's child passenger safety law.

* Oklahoma -- News conferences and media events are planned and safety checkups will be held statewide. These will be complimented by increased law enforcement efforts. The Oklahoma Office of Highway Safety continues to work with its safety partners to enact booster seat legislation and remove the current exemption for out-of-state drivers from the current law.