Car Seat Safety

When it comes to being a parent, it is important to understand how to keep our children safe in our vehicles. Sheriff Service Specialist, Mary Ann Tucker joins us to demonstrate just how easy it is to buckle our loved ones in. Rancho Cucamonga Police Chief, Mike Newcombe, informs us that all personnel in the Police Department are all trained in how to teach people to put a carseat in the back of their car. The department also has car seats that they give to people who don’t have them. They are very strict when it comes to enforcing laws about child safety.

The leading cause of death in children ages 3 to 14 are motor vehicle crashes. With the use of child restraints and correct child seat positioning, mortality rates can be reduced by more than 70%. By California state law, children must ride in a safety designed seat until they reach the age of 6 or sixty pounds, then the toddler law takes over. The toddler law requires the child to sit in a booster seat in order to elevate the child so the restraint belt doesn’t go across their neck.

As children get older, safety concerns shift from booster seats to cellphones. With cellphones now being a near necessity to todays generation, it becomes our job as parents and role models to make sure there is a clear understanding of laws and safety concerns. California law clearly states that anyone under the age of 18 is not permitted to use a cellphone in the drivers seat, even with a hands-free device.

To learn more about traffic safety laws, visit the office of traffic safety’s website at www.ots.ca.gov