Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading killers in California for children ages 14 years and under, with unrestrained or improperly restrained children being the No. 1 contributing factor.
“You can never be too careful when it comes to protecting your children,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “The best way to keep your child from becoming a grim statistic is make sure they are properly secured in their safety seat.”
According to CHP statistics, statewide for 2005 to 2007, out of the 148 passenger vehicle occupant fatalities among children under 6 years of age, an estimated 89 – or 60 percent – were totally unrestrained.
To help combat the problem, the CHP has obtained a $1 million federal grant from the Office of Traffic Safety. The money will provide the CHP with the means to strengthen its enforcement and education efforts statewide with a combination of seat belt and safety seat usage surveys, in addition to child passenger safety presentations.
“This grant will help us arm parents and child care providers with valuable information and equipment that can save their child’s life,” said Commissioner Farrow.
In addition to the 20 checkup events and 125 safety presentations, 25 of which will be to individuals for whom English is a second language, the Statewide Highway Restraint Enforcement Campaign (SHREC) II will provide for safety seats to be distributed to parents whose seats don’t measure up to current safety standards.
CHP Officer Adam Garcia said the Clear Lake area CHP office has benefited from the $1 million grant, which helped buy them safety seats for distribution. Local CHP officers also have participated in five car seat checks held at various locations within the county.
Money from the federal grant also will be used to increase the number of technicians certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to perform child safety seat inspections at CHP Child Safety Seat Fitting Stations.
Garcia said the grant funded local CHP officer hours at car fitting stations.
There are four such stations in Lake County:
Clearlake: Lake County Fire Protection District Station, Olympic Drive; telephone 994-2170.
Kelseyville: California Highway Patrol, Highway 29 and Live Oak Drive; telephone 279-0103.
Middletown: South Lake County Fire Protection District Station, Highway 175; telephone 987-3089, Extension 1.
Upper Lake: Northshore Fire Protection District Station, Main Street; telephone 275-2446.
Commissioner Farrow urged parents and other caregivers to buckle up themselves and set a good example for children.
You may report unrestrained children in a motor vehicle to the California Highway Patrol by calling 1-800-TELL CHP.
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