Next week is National Child Passenger Safety Week, and the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety wants to ensure all caregivers of young children know the importance of buckling children in an appropriate child restraint.
Motorists can expect increased enforcement of Missouri's child seat safety laws during this campaign, according to a Missouri Department of Transportation news release.
In 2017, 12 children younger than 8 years old were killed and 43 suffered injuries in motor vehicle crashes in Missouri. Thirty-one percent of the children killed were not restrained in a car seat or safety belt.
Missouri law requires all children younger than 8 to be in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat, unless they are at least 80 pounds and at least 4 feet, 9 inches.
Authorities said serious injuries can result from improperly fitted safety belts, particularly for children ages 4-7 who are secured only in a regular safety belt during a crash. These injuries, often life-threatening or disabling, are commonly known as "seat belt syndrome." Booster seats help prevent this syndrome from occurring by raising the child so the lap and shoulder belt fits properly.
Child safety seat technicians will provide education and car seat inspections at locations across the state during this campaign and throughout the year. A list of car seat inspection stations and locations across the state can be found at seatcheck.org. Appointments may be necessary.
A car seat check will be at Jefferson City Fire Station No. 3, located at 302 Rock Hill Road off Missouri 179, from 10 a.m.-noon Sept. 29. Certified car seat technicians will be on hand to do seat checks.