Car Seat Safety

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Preserving the Legacy of 2000-2003
Child Passenger Safety Restraints

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in the United States. In 1998, 41,471 Americans died in motor vehicle crashes and over 3 million were injured. While no safety system is 100% effective in all crash circumstances, many of these deaths and injuries could have been prevented with proper use of seat belts and child restraint systems.

Motor vehicle crashes account for nearly 42% of all unintentional childhood related deaths.

In 1998, 7 children were killed and 866 were injured on an average day.
61% of the children under 14 years old who died in motor vehicle crashes were unrestrained.
Properly utilized child restraint systems are 71% effective in reducing deaths for infants and 54% effective in reducing toddler deaths in motor vehicle crashes.

Starting in December, 2001, a new New Jersey seatbelt law requires that every driver transporting children under the age of eight and weighing less than 80 pounds must secure the child in the rear seat, using a child passenger restraint system or a booster seat The law also requires that the driver of a passenger automobile must secure children between 8 and 18 years old in a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt system.

Corporal Michael J. Mazzeo of the Long Hill Township Police Department recently trained to become a certified technician on Standardized Child Passenger Safety. The course was developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Corporal Mazzeo is available to provide current information about child passenger safety, to educate and demonstrate the proper use of the car seat, and to assist parents and caregivers with any questions or concerns regarding the child passenger seat.

We offer free child passenger safety restraint checks. The inspection takes less than 30 minutes. To schedule your inspection, please contact Corporal Mazzeo by email or by calling 908-647-1800 ext. 234.

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Proper Child Safety Seat Use Chart For additional tips, laws, checklists, recalls and other valuable links visit this page on the NHTSA website.
	INFANTS	TODDLER	YOUNG CHILDREN
WEIGHT	Birth to 1 year up to 20-22 lbs.	Over 1 year and Over 20 lbs.-40 lbs.	Over 40 lbs. up to 80 lbs.
TYPE of SEAT	Infant only or rear-facing convertible	Convertible / Forward-facing	Belt positioning booster seat
EXAMPLE	Harness straps at or below shoulder level	Harness straps should be at or above shoulders	Use with both lap and shoulder belt
EXAMPLE	These sketches show only the most popular of the varieties available. For a look at other acceptable varieties and complete usage instructions, please visit the complete car seat tutorial on the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration website.
SEAT POSITION	Rear-facing only	Forward-facing	Forward-facing
GENERAL	All children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat Infants MUST NEVER ride rear facing in front seats where a passenger air bag is present

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