SCDPS Urges Proper Use of Child Safety Seats

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) is reminding parents and caregivers just how important it is to have their children restrained in properly installed child passenger safety seats through a series of billboards that have been placed around the state.

Last year, nine children under the age of six were killed and another 9,300 injured in motor vehicle collisions in South Carolina.  

“Nationally, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 12 years old,” said SCDPS Director Leroy Smith. “Many of those tragedies could have been prevented if children had been restrained properly. We encourage parents and caregivers to take advantage of these free safety seat check events.” 

This effort to educate parents coincides with this month’s National Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Week, which runs September 16 through September 22. 

As part of the campaign, parents and caregivers are being encouraged to have the installation of child restraints checked at local child seat fitting stations or safety seat check events. The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, through a grant from SCDPS, is conducting a CPS Technician training class in Sumter during CPS Week and will hold a child safety seat inspection from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday, September 21, 2012, at Jones Chevrolet, 1230 Broad Street in the City of Sumter.  

Additionally, during CPS Week, child safety seat check events are planned in a number of cities statewide. In the Upstate, seat checks will take place at:

• Greer: September 22, 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Bradshaw Automotive, 14000 East Wade Hampton Blvd.

Can't make the event? Use this Web site to find places in your area that conduct seat checks. 

“Every parent and caregiver needs to make sure children of all ages are safely restrained for every ride in a motor vehicle – even if it’s just a short trip to the grocery store,” said Phil Riley, Director of the SCDPS Office of Highway Safety. “We urge everyone responsible for transporting children to ensure the child is using proper restraints for their age and weight. That could mean using a booster seat.”