Child Passenger Safety Week
In 1967, Volvo was the first auto manufacturer to introduce a child protection device for cars. (It’s hard to call it a seat, as it was more like a wrap-around steel shell with a nice covering.) The rearward facing position is still favored today, and it’s the best way to support a child during frontal impacts. You’ve probably heard me say this, but a 60 pound child becomes about 2,700 pounds during a frontal impact accident. Not a pretty sight.
Below is a memo sent from our Regulations and Compliance group to all employees that I want to share with you.
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Child Passenger Safety Week, 9/16-22
Did you know? Car crashes are the number one killer of children age 1 through 12. In many instances deaths and injuries can be prevented by proper use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts.
In 2010 655 children (age 12 and younger in a passenger vehicle) were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes, 64% of whom were restrained. 3 out of 4 Kids are not as secure as they should be because their child seats are not being used correctly. Are you driving with a child passenger in your car? If so, is the child riding in a correctly sized and installed child safety seat? If they are, you deserve to be applauded as you have just greatly decreased their chance of being killed by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers. Older children are also 59% less likely to be injured in a booster seat than if they were just wearing a seatbelt*. (*NHTSA)
With this in mind it is a fact; the most effective step you can take to prevent harm to your young passengers in the event of a crash is to buckle them into a correctly installed safety seat appropriate to their height and weight.
September 16-22 is National Child Passenger Safety Week, a week to remind parents and caregivers to make certain they are properly using and installing their child safety seats, culminating on Saturday 9/22 with National Seat Check Saturday. On this day you can get free, (in most cases) hands on advice and guidance on the proper sizing, installation and use of your child safety seat. If you are unsure of any aspect of the use or installation of your child seat, please visit a Child Passenger Seat Installation clinic. Please see the following link for locations of a CPS installation/check clinic.(www.nhtsa.gov/cps/CPSFitting/index.cfm.)
Volvo supports National Child Passenger Safety Week and encourages all child caregivers to take advantage of your local CPS fitting station if unsure of the correct use/installation of your child seat.
Product Safety & Compliance Department
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC
