With Child Passenger Safety Week upcoming, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders urges residents to visit the County’s Child Safety Seat Inspection Center in Garwood.
“We are happy to offer this service to our residents where you can get familiar with a new seat, or make adjustments to an older seat to accommodate a growing child.” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “This popular program offers an opportunity to meet New Jersey state law requirements while working to keep children safe in motor vehicles.”
Officials say the proper use and installation of child safety seats is one of the most effective methods for protecting the lives of children in the event of a motor vehicle accident. Union County first launched the Child Safety Seat Inspection Program in 1999, in response to surveys showing that the overwhelming majority of child safety seats are improperly installed, even though most users are confident that they know the correct procedure.
New Jersey’s new child safety seat regulations took effect in September of 2015. The new State law requires parents to adhere to American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for child passenger safety. According to findings from the National Safety Council, car crashes are a leading cause of death per children with an average of two children under the age of 13 killed per day in 2016.
Residents are also invited to learn more about other programs offered by the Union County Police Department’s Traffic Safety Education Program. These include programs for children and seniors offered through the Department of Public Safety, such as the CarFit program for seniors, and the bike helmet initiative.
Union County’s Child Safety Seat Inspection Program at the Garwood Rescue Squad runs every Wednesday and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and no appointment is necessary.
Certified child passenger safety technicians will check the car seat for proper installation and educate parents and guardians on using the seat correctly.
For more information about the car seat inspection program, the CarFit program for seniors, or the bicycle helmet safety initiative visit ucnj.org/childseats or contact Christine Marcantonio, Traffic Safety Program Coordinator, by email at cmarcantonio@ucnj.org or by phone at 908-789-6830.