NMDOT supports National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week

NMDOT supports National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week

NMDOT supports National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week

New Mexico Department of Transportation
18 September 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Virtual Seat Check Saturday will take place Sept. 26

SANTA FE – Sept. 20-26 is National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week. The campaign focuses on the importance of properly securing children in an appropriate car or booster seat. To support the event the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) will sponsor virtual child safety seat clinic on Saturday, Sep. 26 as part of National Seat Check Saturday.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) motor vehicle-related injuries remain a leading cause of death for children ages 15 and younger. Using child safety seats decreases the risk of death by an estimated 71% for rear-facing infants and 54% for older, forward-facing children. Additionally, booster seats reduce the likelihood of significant injury for 4 to 8-year-old children over the use of seat belts alone.

The one on one Zoom sessions will provide parents and caregivers instruction on the proper selection, installation and use of their car seats from nationally certified child passenger safety technicians.

Sessions are by appointment only. All participants will be required to electronically sign a waiver of liability prior to their scheduled session. Appointments need to be made for the Virtual Seat Check Saturday event by Sept. 24.

Parents and caregivers must have a valid email address, access to the internet or Wi-Fi and the ability to use Zoom via the app or website. Zoom can be downloaded by visiting https://zoom.us/

Additional requirements include:

· Car or booster seat, along with the manual

· Vehicle manual

· Laptop or smartphone with video capabilities

· The child’s exact height and weight

· Child should be present if possible

· A second person may be helpful to assist with camera/video session

Technicians will spend approximately 30 minutes per seat providing education on the correct selection, installation and use of their car or booster seats. Parents and caregivers will also learn important information regarding common errors in car seat safety and be able to ask questions.

Due to the governor’s COVID-19 mandates and social distancing requirements, replacement seats will not be available.

The virtual car seat education sessions are a free public service funded by the NMDOT and are available to everyone. For more information or to make an appointment, please call (800) 231-6145 or visit www.safernm.org.

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