Child Safety Seat Being Deemed Unsafe

If you have a child, the best protection that you can give them when traveling by vehicle is a safety seat. Whether you live in the United States or Canada, every child is required by law to be restrained in the back seat while driving - with good reason. For the most part, child safety seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury - especially for babies and toddlers. But with that said, this is only true if they are installed properly. When not installed correctly, child safety seats can pose more of a risk than a benefit.

This is the exact reason why a Child Car Safety Seat Checkpoint has been scheduled for November 17 by the City of Sevierville Police Department. Taking place at 642 Dolly Parton Pwy at the Tennessee State Bank from 9:00am to 1:00pm, this checkpoint is designed to check for improperly installed safety seats and to teach parents proper installation techniques.

As previous checkpoints by the Sevierville Police Department would show, there are many child car safety seats that are still being used that are no longer safe. Common reasons for decreased safety include involvement in a previous accident, missing parts, and recalls by the manufacturer. Of course, many people will avoid attending the Child Car Safety Seat Checkpoint for fear that they will be required to purchase a new child seat - a product that can be quite costly, especially for parents on a budget. But in this case, attending the checkpoint will actually be beneficial for parents with low income. Why? If the department deems your child seat to be unsafe for any reason and you are unable to afford a new one, a replacement seat will be provided for you free of cost!

Aside from unsafe products, another large concern for the police department during this checkpoint is improperly installed car seats. Despite the good intentions of parents, it is estimated that over 90 percent of child car seats are not installed properly. Furthermore, over 40 percent of fatalities caused to children in vehicle accidents are prompted by child seats that have not been properly installed. This statistic alone should be enough to provide parents with the motivation that they need to attend the checkpoint and ensure that their child seats are properly installed for the safety of their children.

Upon attending the Child Safety Seat Checkpoint, you will find several certified Sevierville Police Department officers who will be available to perform child seat inspections, demonstrate proper installation techniques to parents, and offer general assistance or answer any questions that you may have regarding child seat safety.

For anyone who has children and lives in the Tennessee area, this event is strongly suggested for attending. Learning how to install your child seat will only take an hour of your time, but could end up saving your child's life.

Read the Original Article at: http://www.seymourherald.com/blog/2012/11/06/child-car-seat-danger/