National Child Passenger Safety Week 

One of the most dangerous activities people do daily is traveling by vehicle. While you can’t control what other drivers do, you can control what you do. And one of the safest choices you can make for your child in a vehicle is to secure them in a properly sized child safety seat. That’s why we urge you — Buckle up, South Carolina. Every trip. Every time.

National Facts:

• Every day in 2024, on average, two children under 14 were killed and 349 were injured in traffic crashes while riding in passenger vehicles.
• A total of 677 children were killed in traffic crashes while riding in passenger vehicles in 2024, and over 127,000 were injured.
• In 2024, 39% of children (14 and younger) who died while riding in passenger vehicles were unrestrained.
• In passenger cars, car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers 1 to 4 years old in passenger cars. For infants and toddlers in light trucks, the corresponding reductions are 58% and 59%, respectively.

• NHTSA estimates that since 1975, child restraints have saved the lives of 11,606 children under the age of 5.

The North Charleston Police Department (NCPD) reminds drivers that they are responsible for operating their vehicle in a safe manner so make sure everyone in the vehicle — especially children — are properly buckled up.