Stock photo.
OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — PennDOT and its safety partners are reminding parents and caregivers to make sure children are properly secured in vehicles ahead of National Child Passenger Safety Week.
This year’s campaign will run from Sunday, September 20, through Saturday, September 26, under the theme “In It to Win It: Safety Starts with the Right Seat.”
Mike Tautin, a Community Traffic Safety Project Coordinator with the Highway Safety Network, said properly buckling children into the appropriate seat is the first step in protecting them in the event of a crash.
According to the Pennsylvania Traffic Injury Prevention Project, 81% of children under age 4 who were involved in crashes between 2021 and 2025 and properly restrained in the appropriate child safety seat sustained no injuries.
Pennsylvania’s child passenger safety requirements include:
- Birth to age 2: Children must be secured in a rear-facing car seat.
- Ages 2 to 4: Children must be properly restrained in an approved child safety seat and should remain rear-facing until reaching the manufacturer’s maximum height or weight limits.
- Ages 4 to 7: Children must use an appropriate booster seat and harness belt.
- Ages 8 to 18: Children must use a seat belt regardless of where they are seated in the vehicle.
Drivers are also encouraged to register car seats with the manufacturer after installation to receive information about recalls and other safety notices.
PennDOT funds more than 75 fitting stations across Pennsylvania where trained technicians can inspect child safety seats and ensure they are properly installed.
Pennsylvania State Police will also hold free Child Passenger Safety Week events throughout the state where trained technicians can assist with car seat installation and inspections.
Additional information, including fitting station locations and child passenger safety resources, is available through PennDOT, Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Traffic Injury Prevention Project.
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