ICJI calls for proper use and installation of child safety seats to save lives – WRBI Radio

(Indianapolis, IN) – The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) encourages parents and guardians to take time during Child Passenger Safety Week to ensure their child is properly secured in an appropriate car seat or booster seat.

The annual Safety Week, which this year takes place from September 15 to 21, ends with a national awareness event on child seats, “National Car Seat Check Saturday”.

Throughout the week, organizations across the state host child road safety events.

At these events, certified child safety technicians inspect car seats, let caregivers know if their children are in the correct seats for their age and size, and show them how to properly install the correct seats.

“A properly installed car seat is a child's best protection against injury in a crash,” said Devon McDonald, executive director of the ICJI. “We must ensure that every child rides safely.”

Statistics show that nearly one in five children aged 4 or younger who died in crashes between 2018 and 2022 were not wearing a seat belt. The ICJI wants caregivers to know that it is never safe to let a child ride unrestrained in a passenger vehicle, no matter how short the trip or how large the vehicle.

When it comes to children traveling, there is a car seat for every age and developmental stage. Regardless of the developmental stage, a certified child safety technician can put parents at ease by discussing the right car seat selection with them and showing them how to properly install that seat in their vehicle.

“Every child deserves a safe ride,” said Jim Bryan, ICJI's transportation safety director. “We encourage parents and guardians to use the resources available to select and install the right car seat for their child.”

Safety checks are available year-round and typically last 20 to 30 minutes. These visits can be completed at one of Indiana's many adjustment stations, which can be found at on.in.gov/SafeKids.

(Press release from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute)