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Car Seat Safety Check Set For Saturday In Riverbank
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The California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) are observing National Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 18 through 24. Throughout the week, CHP officers will raise awareness of the importance of child safety seats by conducting community events statewide.

Locally, a Car Seat Checkup Event is set for Saturday, Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to noon at Galaxy Riverbank Luxury+ in Riverbank at 2525 Patterson Road. Expectant parents are welcome; please bring a car seat. Plan on spending approximately 45 minutes per car seat at the event. The checkup is open to all; no one will be asked for their driver’s license or identification. Those attending are also asked to bring, if possible, the child seat instruction manual and the vehicle owner’s manual. Also the child that will be riding in the seat should accompany you. This is a great time to learn how to install your child’s car seat or booster seat and find out if it’s time for a change. Contact Community Services Officer Hardy at 209-869-7162 for more information; open to residents in the Riverbank-Oakdale-Escalon and surrounding areas.

California Highway Patrol Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technicians will be available at each event to provide education on how to properly use car seats, booster seats, and seat belts for children. National Seat Check Saturday concludes the week on Sept. 24 with statewide events and technicians offering instruction to parents and caregivers.

“Ensuring your child is properly secured is a driver’s primary responsibility,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “Buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself and your child in the event of a collision.”

To help further reduce the number of deaths and injuries to child passengers, a new California law will take effect on Jan. 1, 2017. The new law will require that children under 2 years of age shall ride in a rear-facing car seat unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall. The child shall be secured in a manner that complies with the height and weight limits specified by the manufacturer of the car seat.

“We all want to do our best to protect our children when traveling,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “During Child Passenger Safety Week, we urge all parents and caregivers to have your car seat checked by a certified technician. When it comes to the safety of your child, there is no room for mistakes.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, child safety seats can reduce fatal injury by up to 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers (ages 1 to 4).