National Child Passenger Safety Week is September 20-26, and the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety wants to ensure all caregivers of young children know the importance of buckling children in an appropriate child restraint.

A news release says in 2019, 13 children less than eight years old were killed and 52 suffered serious injuries as occupants in motor-vehicle crashes in Missouri. Thirty-five percent of the children killed and seriously injured were not properly restrained in an appropriate seat.

Missouri law requires all children under eight to be in an appropriate child-safety or booster seat, unless:
· They are at least 80 pounds; or
· They are at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

However, highway safety professionals recommend children remain in an appropriate child-safety seat until they meet all three criteria. Furthermore, experts strongly encourage children to remain in a rear-facing car seat until age two or as long as the height and weight specifications of the car seat allow.

Motorists can expect increased enforcement of Missouri’s child seat safety laws throughout this campaign.

Child safety-seat technicians provide education and car seat inspections at locations across the state. A list of Missouri’s car seat inspection stations and their locations can be found at seatcheck.org. Appointments and social-distancing protocol may be necessary.

Also, remember that car seats have expiration dates. Due to the extreme heat and cold that they’re subject to, they can break down over time. Used car seats can also be dangerous, especially if you don’t know the seat’s history.

For more information on Child Passenger Safety Week, visit saveMOlives.com.