Mobile, Alabama — Tobias & Comer Law, LLC announced today that it is working alongside the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) for Child Passenger Safety Week, September 19-25, 2021. The week is dedicated to educating parents and caregivers about the importance of correctly choosing, installing, and using car seats, booster seats, and seat belts.
“We know parents and caregivers have a lot on their plates, so we hope that Child Passenger Safety Week will provide an opportunity for parents and caregivers to take a little time to ensure their child is as safe as possible when in a car, truck, or SUV” said Bryan Comer with Tobias & Comer Law, LLC Law Firm. “Sadly, two children under 13 were killed every day in 2019 while riding in vehicles. No parent ever wants to get it wrong when it comes to a child’s safety. Parents: Don’t think you know, know you know that your kids are secured correctly in their car seats.”
Here are key takeaways for making sure your child passenger is safe:
- Make sure you have the right seat for your child’s age and size.
- Follow the manufacturers installation guidelines as well the vehicle owner’s manual for proper installation.
- Always ensure that if other people use car seats in their vehicles (grandparents, babysitters, etc.) that they know how to properly install in their vehicles.
- Register the seat with the manufacturer for potential recall notification
- Children under the age of 13 should ride buckled and in the back seat.
- Forward-facing car seats should always use tethers.
Trooper Anna Peoples with ALEA agrees that proper installation is key. “Motor vehicle crashes are a leading killer of children, and the latest research from NHTSA shows that nearly half (46%) of car seats are misused. Trooper Peoples added that using age- and size-appropriate car seats and installing them correctly are the best ways to reduce these deaths. “More than one-third of children 12 and younger who died in crashes in 2019 while riding in cars, pickups, vans, and SUVs were unbuckled. Many of those kids could have survived if they had been buckled up.”
As soon as COVID-19 protocols will allow, Tobias & Comer Law, LLC plans to host a seat check event in the area. Stay tuned for details! For now, see these other resources for finding a certified technician in your area.Learn About Car Seat Safety
You can find out if a Technician is available in your community by virtual appointment by visiting here.
Tobias & Comer Law, LLC and NHTSA hope to empower parents and caregivers with helpful resources to make life easier. You can access the many free, online resources available at NHTSA Website. Other resources on this site include the following:
- Car Seat Types: Determine whether your child fits best in a rear-facing car seat, forward-facing car seat, booster seat, or seat belt.
- Car Seat Recommendations: Review NHTSA’s recommendations for the best car seat for your child’s age and size.
- Find and Compare: Find and compare car seats with NHTSA’s handy car seat finder, which also searches specific brands.
For more information on child car seat safety, as well as how to find other virtual car seat check events, go to NHTSA Website.