"Boost for Safety" - October is National Booster Seat Safety Month
In conjunction with the National Auto Dealers Association's proclamation of October as National Booster Seat Safety Month, the Metro Portland New Car Dealers Association is urging all parents to inspect their child's vehicle safety seat.

While most people do use child safety seats, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that nearly 73 percent are used improperly, needlessly exposing children to increased risk of death or injury in an accident. The most common misuses of safety seats are loose harness straps and loose vehicle safety belt attachments.

"Without a doubt, one of the greatest concerns in driving an automobile is the safety of young passengers," said Greg Remensberger, executive director of the Metro Portland New Car Dealers Association. "As adult drivers, it is our responsibility to ensure that children are safe and secure when riding in a vehicle."

According to the NHTSA, all infants should ride in a rear-facing child safety seat until they are at least one year old and weigh at least 20 pounds. Toddlers between 20 and about 40 pounds should ride in a forward-facing child safety seat with a harness. And after that, a child should be restrained in a booster seat until he or she is at least eight years old or as tall as 4'9". Current estimates show only 15 percent of these older children are properly secured.

To learn more about safely securing children in vehicles, visit www.boosterseat.gov. Or visit www.actsoregon.org to find the calendar of upcoming local safety seat inspection clinic's.