As part of Child Passenger Safety Week, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is encouraging parents to prevent potential injuries by choosing the correct sized car seat.

In light of the danger children face when they are not properly buckled in, the California Highway Patrol is partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to promote Child Passenger Safety Week from Sept. 20 through Sept. 26.

“The pandemic has heightened the focus on children’s health and safety for many parents and caregivers,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said. “Keeping children safe in your vehicle for every single trip is just as important as ever.”

Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children age 13 and under, and in 2017, 37 percent of the children killed in car crashes were unrestrained, according to the CHP.

Additionally, the NHTSA has found that nearly 60 percent of children’s safety seats are used incorrectly.

California law mandates that all children under two years of age ride in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat. Children who are under eight years old or under four feet nine inches tall must be fastened into suitable child seats in the back seat of a vehicle. Parents and caregivers should follow the recommendations of car seat manufacturers when choosing or upgrading a car seat for a child.

“Adults must be role models for the children in their lives by always wearing their own seat belts,” said a statement released by the CHP. “Drivers are responsible for ensuring that children and adults in their car are safely secured in the correct safety seat or seat belt on every trip, every time.”

For more guidance on how to properly choose a child seat, click here. Additionally, the local CHP Area office can be contacted for safety seat installation and inspections.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.