WABASH VALLEY (WTHI) – It is National Child Passenger Safety Week.
The Illinois Department of Transportation wants to remind families of the importance of properly installing a car seat.
IDOT officials say crashes are the leading cause of death for children, with about 46% of them due to improper car seat installation.
According to national guidelines, children must ride in an age-appropriate car seat until they are at least 8 years old.
IDOT says if parents get a chance, they should have a technician do a proper inspection to ensure safety and peace of mind.
Paul Wappel, public information officer for IDOT, said a certified passenger safety technician can help parents and caregivers with car seat selection and installation.
“A certified passenger safety technician can really put parents’ and caregivers’ minds at ease by discussing the correct car seat selection, showing them how to correctly install that seat in their vehicle. So don’t put children at risk and take advantage of this opportunity to make sure kids’ children are in the right seat,” Wappel said.
You can learn more here.
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