KPD Hosts Free Car Seat Check On Friday

KPD hosts free car seat check on Friday December 21st, 4-6 pm

The Kaua‘i Police Department’s Traffic Safety Section will be hosting a free car seat safety inspection on Friday, Dec. 21, from 4 to 6 p.m., at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School in Līhu‘e.

KPD’s certified child passenger seat technicians will be available Friday to inspect car seats and installations, and make the necessary recommendations or adjustments.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13. Research has shown that properly installed child safety seats can reduce the risk of infant fatalities by 71 percent, and by 54 percent for toddlers, ages 1 to 4 years old.

Hawai‘i state law requires children under the age of 4 to ride in a child safety seat, and children under the age of 8 to ride in a child passenger restraint or booster seat. Violators could face a fine of up to $500, and may be required to take a child passenger safety course.

Safety officers additionally advise that children remain in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit in a seat belt properly, even if they are over the age of 8. According to NHTSA, a proper seat belt should lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snugly across the shoulder and chest, and not across the neck or face.

For tips to increase your child’s car seat safety, visit www.nhtsa.gov.

For more information on car seat inspections, please call KPD’s Traffic Safety Section at 241-1613.

To request an ASL interpreter, materials in an alternate format, or other auxiliary aid support, or an interpreter for a language other than English, please call 241-1613 before the event.