SACRAMENTO – The California Highway Patrol is mounting a year-long car seat safety campaign to ensure children are properly restrained while traveling the state’s roadways.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children in the United States, and many of these tragedies could have been prevented.

The California Restraint Safety Education and Training (CARSEAT) IV grant, which provides funding through September 30, 2021, will enable the CHP to present seminars and new parent classes to help reduce the number of deaths of unrestrained and improperly restrained children involved in crashes.

“Passenger safety, especially when it comes to children, is a primary concern for our Department,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said. “Using a correctly installed safety seat that is suitable for the age and size of a child is the best way to keep them safe.”

California law requires a child to be properly secured in a safety car seat in the second row of a vehicle, when available until they are at least 8 years of age.

Children ages 8 and older, who are at least 4 feet, 9 inches in height, may ride in the back seat of a vehicle in a properly fitted safety belt.

Children younger than 2 years old must ride in a rear-facing car seat or until they reach 40 pounds or 40 inches in height.

Contact the CHP Newhall Area office for more information about child passenger safety or to schedule a free safety seat inspection.

During the pandemic, classes and seminars are being conducted both online and in-person in accordance with California Department of Public Health guidelines.

In addition to educational efforts, the CHP will conduct enforcement operations concentrating on occupant restraint violations throughout the year, with a special emphasis during the national “Click It or Ticket” campaign, November 9-29.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.