If you were born after 1970, Seatbelt safety has been drilled into your head since childhood. Because of that, parts of Washington State have very high seatbelt compliance rates. In 2012, studies shows that Washingtonians had the highest seatbelt compliance rate in the nation at 97.5%!
Over time, those numbers have started to decline. In some parts of the state, we are seeing a relatively low compliance rate. Urban areas, such as Snohomish County are still seeing high compliance (over 95%). Rural areas are where we are seeing less compliance.
May 14th-June 3rd marks our annual Click it or Ticket campaign. You may have seen billboards or heard radio ads for this campaign. This campaign is perfectly timed to launch our buys summer driving season and remind everyone that passenger safety is a priority. As we enter the 100 deadliest days of summer on our roadways, your seatbelt very likely could save your life.
Last week, a friend posted a picture on Facebook of a new "Seatbelt Pillow" that attaches to the seatbelt and hopefully keeps the occupant from slumping over while sleeping in the car. She was asking if it was something she should try for her children. I immediately chimed in that, generally speaking, seatbelt add-ons are not approved devices and can cause your seatbelt to not function properly. It is unlikely her car manufacturer tested this aftermarket device in their crash tests. She mentioned that her child often falls asleep and slumps over and is not longer positioned correctly. This can be a big problem for parents. My response to this is that if your child cannot ride in the properly seated position, they should still be in a 5 point harness system. If the child is too large for 5 point child seats, there are some other options out there that may help. Otherwise, your child should be kept awake during any car rides.
Child passenger safety remains confusing for many parents and transporters of children. There are many laws and recommendations out there, often they are mixed up and people are unsure what they need to do to keep their smallest passengers safe. We can help! If you need assistance determining the proper car seat or restraint system for your child, please contact us. We can also teach you to properly install your restraint device. 3 out of 4 people have car seats incorrectly installed in their car. If you need assistance, click the "Child car seats" tab on our website and fill out a contact form. We will contact you for an appointment.
Washington Seatbelt Law
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.688
Over time, those numbers have started to decline. In some parts of the state, we are seeing a relatively low compliance rate. Urban areas, such as Snohomish County are still seeing high compliance (over 95%). Rural areas are where we are seeing less compliance.
May 14th-June 3rd marks our annual Click it or Ticket campaign. You may have seen billboards or heard radio ads for this campaign. This campaign is perfectly timed to launch our buys summer driving season and remind everyone that passenger safety is a priority. As we enter the 100 deadliest days of summer on our roadways, your seatbelt very likely could save your life.
Last week, a friend posted a picture on Facebook of a new "Seatbelt Pillow" that attaches to the seatbelt and hopefully keeps the occupant from slumping over while sleeping in the car. She was asking if it was something she should try for her children. I immediately chimed in that, generally speaking, seatbelt add-ons are not approved devices and can cause your seatbelt to not function properly. It is unlikely her car manufacturer tested this aftermarket device in their crash tests. She mentioned that her child often falls asleep and slumps over and is not longer positioned correctly. This can be a big problem for parents. My response to this is that if your child cannot ride in the properly seated position, they should still be in a 5 point harness system. If the child is too large for 5 point child seats, there are some other options out there that may help. Otherwise, your child should be kept awake during any car rides.
Child passenger safety remains confusing for many parents and transporters of children. There are many laws and recommendations out there, often they are mixed up and people are unsure what they need to do to keep their smallest passengers safe. We can help! If you need assistance determining the proper car seat or restraint system for your child, please contact us. We can also teach you to properly install your restraint device. 3 out of 4 people have car seats incorrectly installed in their car. If you need assistance, click the "Child car seats" tab on our website and fill out a contact form. We will contact you for an appointment.
Washington Seatbelt Law
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.688
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