Ensuring Proper Car Seat Installation for Child Safety

Ensuring your child's car seat is properly installed is critical for their safety, yet studies show nearly half of all child car seats are improperly installed. This alarming statistic underscores the need for parents to double-check their car seats before hitting the road. To help, the City of Indio’s Road Safety Initiative and the Drive Smart campaign stress the importance of correctly securing a child’s seat. Officer Victor Kustik, from the Indio Police Department, highlights that improper installation increases the risk of injury in the event of an accident. One key tip is ensuring the car seat straps are tight enough that you cannot pinch any slack between the straps and your child’s chest. For children under two, a rear-facing car seat is recommended as it provides the best protection during a crash. Parents should only switch to a forward-facing seat once the child meets the height and weight requirements. Additionally, transitioning from a booster seat to a regular seat belt should only occur when the child is of appropriate size. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, properly securing a child’s seat can reduce the risk of serious injury by up to 71% in a frontal crash. Most accidents happen close to home, making it even more important to always check that your child is properly secured before leaving the driveway. Don’t forget to look back at the car seat when you exit your vehicle, even if your child isn’t with you. For more tips and resources, parents are encouraged to reach out to the Indio Police Department’s traffic officers.