CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 03/06/15

High-visibility child passenger safety enforcement campaign aims to save lives

By Karen Daily

CONYERS – The University of Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute (GTIPI), supported by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, has teamed up with local law enforcement, public health officials, non-profit organizations, and other advocates to form the Child Passenger Safety Misuse Task Force.

The task force aims to combat traffic-related childhood injuries through a high-visibility information campaign that addresses improperly restrained children. The campaign will be followed by focused law enforcement, when citations may be issued for misuse.

Parents and caregivers in Rockdale County have free access to a number of local organizations that teach correct installation and use of car seats before the March enforcement begins.

When used properly, car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Car seat, booster seat, and seat belt misuse rates vary from 74 percent to 90 percent, according to NHTSA.

“Car crashes are a leading killer of young children,” said Don Bower, GTIPI project director. “Parents want to transport their kids safely, but car seats and belt systems can be complicated. A quick check can identify and correct some serious misuse.”

Parents and caregivers seeking education from a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) should refer to the following agencies:

  • Conyers Police Department, 770-483-6600, by appointment
  • Rockdale County Fire and Rescue, 770-278-8422, by appointment
  • Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute, 678-413-4281, by appointment
  • Safe Seats 4 Kids—Newton Medical Center, 770-385-4396, contact Missy Braden
  • Rockdale County Health Department, 770-785-4345, monthly classes offered for families demonstrating financial need

During the checkup, a CPST will fill out a checklist addressing selection, position, installation, harnessing, expiration, and potential recalls for the car seat. This one-to-one education typically takes 20-30 minutes and will help ensure the caregiver is comfortable using the seat correctly.

For more information about child passenger safety, visit www.safercar.gov/parents.

To learn the specifics of Georgia’s child restraint law, check www.ridesafegeorgia.org or www.gahighwaysafety.org.

Karen Daily is a student intern with the Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute.

Authors:
Karen Daily
Experts/Sources:
Don W. Bower
The University of Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute has teamed up with local law enforcement, public health officials, non-profit organizations, and other advocates to form the Child Passenger Safety Misuse Task Force. The a new force aims to combat traffic-related childhood injuries through a campaign that addresses improperly restrained children. The campaign will be followed by focused law enforcement, when citations may be issued for misuse.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
MicrosoftTeams image (1) CAES News
Both indoor air and water can lead to deadly radon exposure 10/30/23 Emily Cabrera
Uttam Saha, member of the University of Georgia Radon Team and program coordinator of the UGA Agricultural and Environmental Services Laboratories, said that while indoor air has traditionally been the focus of radon testing, another, lesser-understood route of exposure to radon is through household water — primarily when it is supplied by a private well.
Kissing Bug Starved and Engorged CAES News
UGA entomologist receives $1 million NSF early-career award to study kissing bugs 04/12/23 Emily Cabrera
Kevin Vogel, an assistant professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Georgia, has received a prestigious Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program award from the National Science Foundation. Supported by the more than $1 million CAREER grant, Vogel and his team will spend the next five years building upon the still-limited body of research regarding the symbiotic relationship between kissing bugs and a highly specified bacterium that resides in their gut.
Uttam Saha displays radon samples in the AESL's liquid scintillation counter, which measures radioactivity in water samples. CAES News
AESL provides testing, public education and mitigation to prevent radon-induced lung cancer 09/16/21 Maria M. Lameiras
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension’s radon testing program — a holistic program that combines radon education outreach with research, testing and mitigation — has helped optimize sampling and testing methodology for radon in water throughout the U.S. The program has influenced national standards in radon testing.
Greena Kim poses with Chris Rhodes, accepting the $10,000 grand prize. CAES News
Solution to sustainably comfort pets wins $10,000 prize in UGA’s FABricate contest 03/30/21 Sean Montgomery
Every pet owner wants their pet to feel safe and secure, especially on daunting trips to the veterinarian’s office. One major hurdle is the frigid stainless steel tables that offer an unappealing surface for animals that are used to the comfort of home.
Biosecurity expert and plant pathology alumna Ada Bacetty poses with UGA adjunct professor Charles Bacon after her 2008 graduation. (contributed) CAES News
Plant pathology graduate delivers seminar to boost conversation about equality 02/04/21 Sean Montgomery
Speaking at the University of Georgia for the first time since graduating in 2008, U.S. Department of Defense's Ada Bacetty presented the “Shattered Ceilings” seminar to the campus community — an engaging conversation about breaking through barriers in pursuit of diversity and inclusion.
Radon levels in Georgia counties based on data from tests from four radon labs from January 1990 through December 2019. Counties with fewer than 15 radon tests are not included. CAES News
Homeowners should test for deadly, invisible gas 01/01/21 Pamela R. Turner
As it is every year, January is National Radon Action month. However, this year feels different, as many people are spending more time at home to keep each other safe and healthy. This makes it even more important that we test our homes for radon, a colorless, odorless gas that is the second-leading cause of lung cancer.