Temecula Authorities Urge Car Seat Checks During Child Passenger Safety Week

TEMECULA, CA — Riverside County authorities are urging residents to ensure their children are in the correct car seat, booster seats and seat belts for their age and size during Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 21 to 27.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office’s Southwest Station in Temecula said it is partnering with law enforcement agencies, public health departments and community organizations for the weeklong campaign.

“Every child deserves to travel safely,” Deputy Strizver said. “During Child Passenger Safety Week, we urge all parents and caregivers to know for sure that their children are in the right seats and that those seats are installed correctly. Keeping a child in the right seat for their age and size can make all the difference in a crash.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half of all car seats, 46 percent, are misused. Properly installed car seats reduce fatal injury risk by 71 percent for infants under 1 year old and by 54 percent for toddlers ages 1 through 4.

California law requires children under 2 years old to ride in a rear-facing car seat, unless they weigh at least 40 pounds or are at least 40 inches tall. Children under 8 must still be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat. Those 8 and older, or who are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, may transition to using a seat belt, but a booster seat is recommended until they fit the seat belt properly.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to keep children in rear- or forward-facing seats as long as possible and to use the “Five-Step Test” to determine whether a child is ready to safely ride with just a seat belt.