Child Passenger Safety Week 2023
September 17-23, 2023 (Child Passenger Safety Week) / September 23, 2022 (National Seat Check Saturday)
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and injury for children According to national data, 46% of car seats are misused. Research shows that children are being placed in the wrong car seat for their age and size and the car seat is being installed improperly. Sadly, two children under 13 years of age were killed every day in 2021 while riding in vehicles, and it is estimated that another 318 were injured. The best way for parents and caregivers to keep children safe in vehicles is to select and use the right car seat for the child’s age and size until the child is ready to use the vehicle lap and shoulder belt.
Child Passenger Safety Week, is a time for parents to make sure children are in the right car seat and that it is being used correctly—every trip, every time. The single most effective way to protect children, and all vehicle occupants, is to correctly buckle all passengers in a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt that is appropriate for their age and size. Most parents think they are using their car seats correctly to protect their children and keep them safe. Child Passenger Safety Week is a time when parents can attend one of the car seat check events, scheduled throughout the State, to be certain children are as safe as possible when they are riding in a vehicle. Car seat check events provide hands-on guidance on the correct selection, installation and use of the appropriate car seat, booster seat, or seat belt based on a child’s age, weight, height, and developmental needs.
The PA Traffic Injury Prevention Project has developed a Child Passenger Safety Week planner to assist you in your efforts to educate families in your community. Child passenger safety materials are also available upon request. Help us to get the word out about car seat checks and educational efforts being conducted by registering your events through the link below. Do not forget to share the success of your event by completing the data collection form through the link below.
Child Passenger Safety Week 2023 Planner
The planner includes child passenger safety information to use as you plan and promote your educational program or event in your community. The planner provides child safety seat and seat belt statistics, a sample press release, best practice safety messages, and educational resources. A synopsis of Pennsylvania’s Occupant Protection law addressing child passengers. Additional educational flyers are available upon request.
Download a PDF file of the 2023 Child Passenger Safety Week Planner here.
Register your Child Passenger Safety Week Event online!
Pennsylvania is joining States across the country in celebrating Child Passenger Safety Week 2023 and Seat Check Saturday. Community car seat check events educate parents on the correct selection and use of car seats for a child’s age weight and size. Help us get the word out. Register your car seat check event scheduled during the week of September 17 – 23, 2023. Car seat checks that are registered will be shared with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, provided for media releases, upon request, and posted on PA TIPP website calendar of events. PA TIPP does not need to be involved in the community car seat check event, we are merely compiling the list of events to be shared. If you are interested in receiving the list of events, please email aosterhuber@paaap.org.
Click here to register your event online.
Submit your Child Passenger Safety Week 2023 event data online!
Thank you for educating families on the correct selection and use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts during Child Passenger Safety Week 2023. You have helped to keep Pennsylvania’s children safe while traveling on our roadways. Please share your results with us so we can compile the data from the events held during Child Passenger Safety Week to highlight the efforts dedicated to protecting children throughout Pennsylvania and your community can be recognized. Please submit your event data by September 29th, 2023. PA TIPP will compile the data from the events and document the successful outreach in local communities. The compiled data will be provided to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Record your event online through the link below. Data can also be submitted by completing the form provided on the last page of the CPS Week planner.
Click here to submit your event data online.
Request Child Passenger Safety Materials for your Event
Educational Materials provide parents and caregivers information about child passenger safety best practice recommendations for the selection and use of car seats, belt-positioning booster seats and seat belts. Materials can be ordered through the link below. Materials can also be ordered by calling 1-800- CAR BELT, or by emailing aosterhuber@paaap.org. Please submit your requests early to guarantee delivery in time for your Child Passenger safety Week event.
Click here to request child passenger safety educational materials.
Download attachment
- Rear-Facing Car Seat Basics
- Forward-Facing Car Seat Basics
- Belt-Positioning Booster Seat Basics
- Vehicle Seat Belt Basics