Child Safety Seats
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration…
1,451 children ages 14 years and younger died in motor vehicle crashes in 2005 and approximately 203,000 were injured.
That’s an average of 4 deaths and 556 injuries each day.
More than half of those who died were unrestrained.
The Randolph Township Police Department has several trained Certified Child Safety Seat Technicians on staff who now lend their expertise to an outside agency that sponsors car seat inspections.
Northern NJ Safe Kids/Safe Communities offers free child safety seat inspections at two locations where a Certified Child Safety Seat Technician will check the installation of your child seat. If it is not installed correctly, the technician will make the necessary corrections and show you how to do it. The locations and hours for these facilities are as follows:
- Atlantic Health Ambulance Building
120 Dorsa Avenue in Livingston
Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
973.971.6477
- Chester First Aid Squad
100 North Road in Chester
1st Tues. of the month, 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
3rd Thurs. of the month, 7:00 a.m. to 12 noon
908.879.5560
New Jersey’s child passenger safety law requires the following:
- Children up to age 8 or 80 pounds must ride in a safety or booster seat in the rear seat of the vehicle. If there is no rear seat, the child must sit in the front seat secured by a safety or booster seat.
- Children under age 8 who weigh more than 80 pounds must wear a seat belt anywhere in the vehicle.
- Passengers age 8 to 18 (regardless of weight) must wear a seat belt anywhere inside a vehicle.
- It’s recommended that all children under the age of 13 years be seated in the rear seat with proper restraints.
Please make sure that children are properly protected while traveling in a motor vehicle. Only the correct use of child car seats will offer the protection your child needs. There are many different types of child car seats on the market today. Each one must meet federal standards and all provide good protection for your child when used correctly. The “right” seat for you is largely a matter of personal choice. Choose a seat that fits your child and your car, read the instructions carefully, and use the seat correctly on every trip.
Types of child safety seats:
- Infant seats—designed for children up to 1 year old and, usually 20 pounds in weight. Infant seats are always positioned rear-facing.
- Forward-facing seats—designed for children between 20 and 40 pounds. Toddler seats are always positioned forward-facing.
- Booster seats—designed for children between 40 and up to 80 pounds. Booster seats raise a child so the vehicle’s lap-and-shoulder belt fits properly and allow the knees to bend.