Edison - A new pilot program,
designed to help children understand at an
early age the life-saving importance of properly
buckling-up when riding in a vehicle, was
unveiled today by traffic safety and law enforcement
officials.
According to Division of Highway
Traffic Safety Director Pam Fischer, the interactive
program highlights the proper use of booster
seats, typically used by children under the
age of eight who have outgrown the limits
of child seats with harnesses.
“While many educational
efforts focus on helping parents and caregivers
better understand the proper use of child
safety restraints in vehicles, this unique
program is designed to engage youngsters in
ensuring their own safety on New Jersey’s
roads,” said Fischer.
New Jersey’s booster seat law establishes
a minimum standard (children must use child
restraints and boosters until they are at
least 8 years old or weigh 80 pounds). Once
children outgrow their forward-facing car
seats they should ride in booster seats, in
the back seat, until the vehicle seat belts
fit properly. Seat belts fit properly when
the lap belt lays across the upper thighs
and the shoulder belt fits across the chest,
which may not coincide with a specific age,
weight or height. When children outgrow their
booster seats, they should be restrained with
seat belts in the back seat until at least
13 years of age. At that time, they may ride
in either the front seat or back seat, but
must always be properly restrained. (New Jersey’s
current primary seat belt law requires passengers
under the age of 18, regardless of seating
position, to always buckle-up.)
“The program provides
an opportunity for children to experience
first-hand when a booster seat should be used,
and how a seat belt should fit,” Fischer
said. “Many children are moved from
a booster seat into an adult seat belt when
they meet the guidelines set in the law, even
though the belt doesn’t fit correctly.
By providing an actual demonstration of what
a properly fitting seat belt and booster seat
should feel like, the children can gain a
better understanding of how to protect themselves
from potentially severe injuries in a crash.”
“Children in this age
group need to know why they should use boosters
or seat
belts," added Joseph Colella, the occupant
protection instructor helping to develop the
program. "Education empowers them to
protect themselves when faced with mixed messages
or pressure from their peers."
The
New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety
is working with local traffic safety organizations,
schools and law enforcement agencies to offer
the program to youngsters throughout the state.
Additional information on child passenger
safety, including a list of permanent fitting
stations that parents and caregivers may visit
throughout the year for free assistance with
their child seats, is available on the Division’s
Web site, at www.nj.gov/oag/hts/CPS-week_resources.html.
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