North Carolina Launches Child Passenger Safety Week 2024 with Statewide Focus on Protecting Children on the Road

North Carolina kicked off Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Week 2024 today with a successful FREE car seat safety event in Apex. The event marked the start of a week-long campaign dedicated to reducing child fatalities on the road. Hosted by Safe Kids NC, the Governor's Highway Safety Program, and State Farm®, the event at Target in Beaver Creek Commons provided over 50 child safety seats to families in need. Financial support was provided by State Farm® through the Good Neighbor Car Seat Safety Program.

Child Passenger Safety Week is a vital initiative to raise awareness of correctly installing child safety seats to protect children in vehicles. Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children in the U.S., but properly installed car seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers.

Today's event provided more than just car seats-parents and caregivers received hands-on guidance from certified technicians to ensure the proper installation and use of child seats, giving them the tools and knowledge to protect their children.

Quotes from Event Leaders:

Brian Taylor, NC State Fire Marshal: "Properly installing child safety seats is one of the most critical ways to protect our children on the road. We are committed to helping families ensure their seats are correctly installed and educating them on the importance of child passenger safety."

Kim Conyers, State Farm Representative: "State Farm is committed to helping kids stay safe From Car Seat to Driver's Seat™. We are excited to work with Safe Kids NC and the Governor's Highway Safety Program and have this opportunity to support child passenger safety and help make our communities safer."

Mark Ezzell, Director of the Governor's Highway Safety Program: "Child Passenger Safety Week is about raising awareness and taking action. This event in Apex is a great opportunity for families to get expert help in securing their child's seat. Every properly installed seat is a step closer to preventing tragic crashes."

Throughout CPS Week 2024, similar car seat checks and safety events will be held across the state. These events will offer parents and caregivers expert advice and resources to ensure children ride safely. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be available to help with car seat installations and answer questions about child passenger safety.

For those unable to attend an event, parents are encouraged to take advantage of year-round resources such as Local Programs & Checking Stations : BuckleUpNC.org - Securing North Carolina for Life provided by Safe Kids NC and the Governor's Highway Safety Program.

The correct use of child safety seats significantly reduces the risk of severe injury or death in the event of a crash. However, data shows that many child safety seats are incorrectly used or installed. CPS Week highlights the importance of these lifesaving devices and the need for proper education and training.