Somerset County officials announced today that certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be offering free car seat safety checks and education to parents and caregivers on the following dates, times and locations.
- September 22, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Hunterdon County Complex, 314 State Route 12, Flemington
- September 23, 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Hillsborough Fire #2, 375 Route 206, Hillsborough
- September 26, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Hillsborough Fire #2, 375 Route 206, Hillsborough
- September 26, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Bright Tomorrow Child Care Center at Hunterdon Medical Center 2100 Wescott Drive, Flemington
These events are part of Child Passenger Safety Week and National Seat Check Saturday.
They will include instruction on how to install and use car seats correctly. Technicians will also help determine if your child is in the right seat for their age and size, and will explain the importance of registering car seats with their manufacturers so that parents and caregivers can be notified if there is a recall.
“As a parent or caregiver, we know you have a long list of things you do to show your children just how much you love them, and one of the top priorities is keeping them safe,” Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. “That should always include using the right car seat, booster seat, or seat belt for your child. But more than that, it’s also ensuring that your child is safe with whomever they ride with, whether it is a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or friend.”
Between 2013 and 2017, there were 3,318 children killed while riding in
passenger vehicles; tragically, more than half were minorities, with the majority of that group being Hispanic.
“No parent ever wants to get it wrong when it comes to a child’s safety," Prosecutor Robertson said. "That’s why we’re hosting this car seat check event on National Seat Check Saturday. Parents: Don’t think you know — know you know — that your kids are secure in their car seats and are in the right seats for their ages and sizes.”
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading killer of children, and the latest research from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that nearly half of car seats are misused. Prosecutor Robertson added that using age- and size-appropriate car seats and installing them correctly are the best ways to reduce these deaths.
National Seat Check Saturday is part of Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs from September 20-26. The week is dedicated to teaching parents and caregivers about the importance of correctly choosing, installing, and using car seats, booster seats, and seat belts.
Parents will also be reminded of the importance of registering car seats with
their manufacturers so they can be notified in the event of a recall. NHTSA recommends keeping children rear-facing as long as possible, up to the top
height and weight allowed by the particular seats. It’s the best way to keep them safe.
Once a child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, he or she is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether. After outgrowing the forward-facing car seat, a child should be placed in a booster seat until they’re tall enough to fit in a seat belt properly. The safest place for all kids under 13 is in the back seat.
All parents and caregivers are invited to attend this free event. Prosecutor Robertson and Chief Fodor stated for more information on child car seat safety, as well as how to find other car seat check events is available by going to the [**National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website**](https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/right-seat).