Child Passenger Safety Week is September 20-26, 2026. You will see increased enforcement of child passenger safety laws by the South Heidelberg Police Department. 

Overview

•    Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children 0-14 years old.
•    Studies have shown that parents and caregivers can be overconfident in their ability to select and install the right seats for their children; in fact, approximately half of all car seats are not correctly installed. 
•    NHTSA urges parents and caregivers to double-check and make sure their children are in the right seats (rear-facing car seats, forward-facing car seats, or booster seats) and that the seats are installed correctly. “Good enough” may not be good enough in a crash. 

Important car seat tips

• Read the instructions. Before installing a car seat, read both the car seat instruction manual and the vehicle owner’s manual. These documents contain critical information about correct car seat installation in your vehicle. Skipping steps or misusing equipment can have serious consequences. To get expert help installing your car seat, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can help you for free.
• Use the tether on forward-facing car seats. Securing the tether is an essential step when installing a forward-facing car seat. It prevents the car seat from moving forward in a crash and may prevent head injury. Read your vehicle owner’s manual to find the correct tether anchor location.
• Don’t rush to the next seat. Moving children to the next type of car seat before they’re ready leaves them vulnerable in a crash. Keep your kids in the right seat as long as possible for their age and size.
• Keep children under 13 in the back seat. Riding in the front seat is not safe for kids. Air bags in the front seat are designed for adult passengers. All children under 13 should be buckled in the correct seat — always in the back seat. Never place a car seat in the front seat.
• Register car seats with the manufacturer. That way, in the event of a safety recall, the manufacturer will be able to notify the caregiver. NHTSA’s SaferCar app provides an easy way for parents and caregivers to save their vehicle and car seat details. The app will send the user a notification if any of their saved vehicles or car seats are included in a recall. 

The importance of booster seats

• Just like rear-facing car seats are essential for babies, car seats and booster seats are equally necessary next steps.
• Booster seats are a necessary step between car seats and seat belts. Booster seats position the adult seat belt so that it fits properly over the stronger parts of your child’s body to protect them in a crash.
• If a booster seat is the right seat for a child’s age and size, then that is the safest way for them to be protected in a crash. Children should stay in a booster seat until a seat belt fits correctly.

Seat belts for big kids

• When a child is ready to use a seat belt, check to make sure the seat belt lies across the child’s upper thighs and is snug across the shoulder and chest. Seat belts should never rest on the stomach area or across the face or neck. 

• Be sure children do not place the shoulder belt behind their back. In a crash, a child could be seriously injured if the shoulder belt isn’t in the correct place. When driving with children, caregivers should check periodically to make sure they’re still buckled correctly. 

  For more information, visit www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/car-seats-and-booster-seats.

  The South Heidelberg Police Department has two certified child passenger safety technicians who will inspect your car seat free of charge and show you how to correctly install and use it. You can call the South Heidelberg Police Department at 610-670-9885 to schedule an appointment.