TXDoT Launches ?Buckle Them Right? Campaign During Child Passenger Safety Week -- Sept. 19-25

Austin (PRWEB) September 20, 2010

According to figures from the National Center for Health Statistics, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 3 to 14 years old. The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that roughly 3 out of 4 child safety seats are not used correctly.

Correctly installed child safety seats and booster seats save lives ? offering the best protection for children in the event of a crash. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), along with SafeKids, will be offering free safety seat check-ups throughout Texas during Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 19-25.

?Child restraint seats can be complicated to install and use correctly and we want to make sure Texas families are buckling their children up right,? said Carol T. Rawson, P.E., Traffic Operation Director for the Texas Department of Transportation. ?We want to encourage adults to read the child safety seat instructions, in addition to the vehicle manual on installation, in order to protect our smallest Texans.?????

On Saturday, Sept. 25, TxDOT and SafeKids certified technicians will offer hands-on child safety seat inspections at locations across the state for free to help Texas families learn to secure their children in the appropriate child safety seat, booster seats and seat belts. More information on how to properly secure children and where to find a child safety seat check point is available at http://www.bucklethemright.org.

A 2009 study conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) in 14 cities across the state found that 13.6 percent of observed children were riding unrestrained. The same study found that almost one third of children observed in child safety seats were restrained in an unsafe manner.

The Texas Child Restraint Law was changed in 2009, requiring all children younger than 8 years old, unless taller than 4 feet 9 inches, to be in child restraint seats or booster seats in the car. After June 2010, fines of up to $ 25 for a first offense and $ 250 for a second offense may be issued.

Visit http://www.bucklethemright.org to learn more about the 4 Steps for Kids guidelines for determining which restraint system is best suited to protect children based on their age and size and where to find a child safety seat check point. The website also features video demonstrations on installing child safety seats and crash test simulations, where parents and caregivers can see firsthand the effects of improper child restraint. For more information, you can visit the NHTSA site at http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS or SafeRiders at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/saferiders/default.shtm.

The Texas Department of Transportation

The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining nearly 80,000 miles of road and for supporting aviation, rail and public transportation across the state. TxDOT and its approximately 12,000 employees strive to empower local leaders to solve local transportation problems, and to use new financial tools, including tolling and public-private partnerships, to reduce congestion and pave the way for future economic growth while enhancing safety, improving air quality and preserving the value of the state's transportation assets. Find out more at http://www.txdot.gov. Fan us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/txdot. Follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/txdot.

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Amica Reminds Motorists to Buckle Up Children for National Child Passenger Safety Week

Lincoln, RI (Vocus) September 21, 2010

To mark National Child Passenger Safety Week, Amica Insurance would like to remind all motorists to make sure your child passengers are buckled into appropriate seats.

Every hour, 150 children under the age of 19 are treated in emergency departments for injuries sustained in motor vehicle crashes, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 1,400 children under age 14 died ? an average of four children a day ? in 2008 alone, the CDC reported.

?That?s why it?s imperative that parents and caregivers protect their youngest passengers,? said Lisa Melton, an assistant vice president with Amica Insurance, who has two young children. ?Make sure all of your passengers use child safety seats, booster seats and seat belts that are appropriate for your child?s age and weight.?

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reminds motorists that the back seat is the safest place for all children under age 12. In addition, the agency offers the 4 Steps for Kids guidelines:

Babies should typically be placed in rear-facing car seats until they are at least 1 year old and weigh at least 20 pounds
When babies move into forward-facing car seats, they should remain in these until they?re about 4 years old and 40 pounds.
Booster seats should generally be used for children ages 4 to 8, or until they reach 4 feet 9 inches tall.
When children outgrow a booster seat, they can use the adult seat belt as long as it fits properly. The shoulder belt should lie across the middle of the chest and shoulder and not across the neck or throat. The lap belt should fit snuggly across the upper thigh, not the stomach.

The NHTSA notes that as many as three out of every four parents do not properly use child restraints. The agency is sponsoring a National Seat Check on Sept. 25, when certified technicians will inspect your child safety seat and show you how to correctly install and use it. Visit their website, http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS, to find a Child Safety Seat Inspection Station near you.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also recently released its list of the best booster seats available. For more information, visit http://www.iihs.org.

?Next time you head out in the car, make sure all of your passengers ? especially the youngest and most vulnerable ? are safe and secure,? Melton said.

CONTACT:????Vince Burks , Corporate Communications, 50 Amica Way,

Lincoln, RI 02865-1155, 800-652-6422, ext. 24563????

Web site: Amica.com.

Twitter: Amica Insurance

Facebook: Amica Mutual Insurance Co.

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