Law enforcement agencies across Oregon will be conducting seat belt and child safety seat education from now through Feb. 12.
Oregon State Police and other agencies will use federally funded overtime for the program during an awareness period sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“Motor vehicle crashes are the leading nationwide cause of death for children ages one through twelve,” OSP said on Facebook. “In 2020, 1,019 children under twelve were injured in Oregon traffic crashes, and 10 percent were reported not using a child restraint system. It is estimated that car seats may increase crash survival by 71% for infants under one year old and by up to 59% for toddlers aged one to four. Booster seats may reduce the chance of nonfatal injury among 4- to 8-year-olds by 45% compared to safety belts used alone.”
If you’re not sure whether your child safety seat is properly installed, there are technicians across the state who can help you. You can search for technicians in your area here: https://cert.safekids.org/ and click “Find a Tech.” You can also find tips and instructions from the NHTSA at its website.
