Study: 3 Out of 4 Car Seats Are Used Incorrectly

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, along with the Suffolk County Traffic & Parking Violation Agency (TPVA), the Suffolk County Police Department and the EAC Network, recently hosted a free child car seat safety inspection and education program for local motorists at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge.

Suffolk County Police Department personnel and EAC Network certified technicians inspected the installation of car seats in more than 40 vehicles to help diagnose and fix common car seat misuses, such as seats that may be too lose, seats that may be too old, seats that may not be age or weight suitable for the child and harness straps that are not snug or clipped correctly.

“I commend all of our partners here for being proactive and providing our residents with vital and potentially life-saving guidance as to how to properly protect our children in while they are passengers on the road,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.  “Studies indicate that three out of four car seats are used incorrectly.  This program is about saving lives here in Suffolk County, and ensuring that the parents in our communities are well-informed about car seat safety.”

“We are so happy to partner with Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, the Suffolk County Police Department, the Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency, and Paul Margiotta for this wonderful car seat event and thank them for their support and cooperation,” stated Lance W. Elder, EAC Network’s President & CEO.   “We look forward to many future collaborations to continue to provide parents with essential information about child passenger safety.”

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee provides a grant to EAC Network to distribute seats to parents and caregivers at these events.

In addition to the safety inspection and education components, the program provided more than 20 free car seats to residents who were in need of a seat.

County Executive Bellone, TPVA, the Suffolk County Police Department and the EAC Network will host additional inspection and education programs in the coming months, and remind all residents at that all children must be restrained in an appropriate child restraint system while riding in a motor vehicle until his or her 8^th birthday.

Below are additional car seat safety tips for parents and motorists:

• A child restraint system may be a child safety seat, vest, harness or a booster seat.
• The vechile’s safety belt along is not a child restraint system.
• Booster seats must be used with a lap and shoulder belt.
• Children 12 years old and younger should ride in the back seat.

More information can be found on the County’s website, www.suffolkcountyny.gov or www.facebook.com/stevebellone.