BEND, OR — New statistics released by the Oregon Department of Transportation show a thousand young children were injured or killed in car crashes, last year.
Nine-hundred-ninety-seven kids under the age of eight were hurt and three others were killed in traffic crashes last year. According to ODOT, 12 of those were not properly restrained. The new numbers released Monday also show one in three 4 to 8-year old children used an adult seatbelt; kids who, by law, should be using a child’s seat or booster.
ODOT officials hope these stats will serve as a reminder of how important it is for children to use the right safety restraint for their age, weight and size. Law enforcement will increase traffic patrols August 25 through September 7th, looking for anyone not wearing a seatbelt.
In 2012, 61 of Oregon’s 198 occupant fatalities were reportedly unrestrained. For child passengers, Oregon law states the following:
- A child weighing less than 40 pounds must be properly restrained in a child safety seat.
- A child under one year of age or weighing less than twenty pounds must be restrained in a rear-facing child seat.
- A child over forty pounds but under age eight or less than 4’ 9” tall must be restrained in either a child seat with harness system or in a booster seat that raises the child up so that a lap and shoulder belt system fit correctly.
ODOT encourages caregivers to place children under age 13 in rear seating positions whenever possible and to send in their car safety seat and booster seat registrations to ensure they receive important recall information.
For help with child seats, refer to the seat manufacturer’s instructions, vehicle owner’s manual, or your local child seat fitting station. A list of Oregon fitting stations is available at:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/apps/cps/index.htm
http://oregonimpact.org/car-seat-resources/
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