PROGRAMS

Child Passenger Safety

Overview

The goal of the Child Passenger Safety Program at the WTSC is to save the lives of and prevent injuries to children in Washington and to increase compliance with Washington's seat belt and child restraint laws.

To reach this goal the WTSC provides technical assistance, training, materials and other resources to child passenger safety teams and advocates throughout the state.

Issues

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for children in Washington. Over 85% of all child passenger restraint devices are misused, yet 60% of all children killed in traffic crashes were completely unrestrained.

If you need to have your child car seat checked for correct installation, please contact your local Child Passenger Safety Team or contact the Safety Restraint Coalition at (800) BUCK-L-UP (282-5587.)

Safety Guidelines & Recommendations

Washington's Child Passenger Safety Law - Overview

• Children are required to be properly restrained in booster seats until their eighth birthday, unless they are 4' 9" tall or taller, when both lap and shoulder belts are available.
• Children under age thirteen (13) are required to ride in the back seat of a vehicle where practical to do so.

Click here to view Washington's New Booster Seat Law - Effective June 1, 2007

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and American Academy of Pediatrics "Best Practice" Recommendations

• Infants need to remain rear facing until at least one year AND at least 20 lbs.
• Keep the child in the convertible seat as long as they fall within the height/weight recommendations for the seat. Be careful not to graduate your child to the next seat too soon.
• Booster seats, used with lap and shoulder belts, are recommended until the child's eighth birthday unless they are 4' 9" tall. Be cautious not to graduate your child to a seat belt too soon.
• Children 13 and under are safer in the back seat regardless of the presence of an air bag.
• Always follow the manufacturers instructions and guidelines for both the safety seat and the vehicle.

Resource Information

Contact Information

Fact Sheets
News Releases

Watch traffic safety educational videos and ads on YouTube. Visit www.youtube.com - search with "wtsc"

Child Passenger Safety Links

Washington Safety Restraint Coalition
www.800bucklup.org
(800) BUCK-L-UP (282-5587)
or in Kirkland, WA (425) 828-8975
Email: office@800bucklup.org

Washington State Auto Dealers Association (WSADA) teamed up with WTSC to promote child passenger safety and Washington's New Booster Seat Law - Effective June 1, 2007.