Child Safety Seat Inspection
Protect our most priceless cargo! Did you know that injuries from motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in children? (CDC 2006) Most of the injuries could be prevented by using age and size appropriate car seats. Using age and size appropriate car seats can reduce the risk of death in passenger cars by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers (ages 1 to 4). When a child grows out of a traditional "harness" car seat, using a booster seat (approximate ages 4 to 7) can reduce the risk of injury by 59% compared to using a seatbelt alone (NHTSA 2006).
Unfortunately, 8 out of 10 car seats are used incorrectly. Some common mistakes associated with car seat use are:
- Not securing the car seat tightly to the vehicle (it should move less than one inch)
- Not securing the child in the car seat correctly (harnesses should be snug to the child)
- Not using a booster seat when a child out grows his/her car seat
The Chesterfield Township Police Department offers free car seat inspections year-round. Inspections are done on an appointment basis only, Monday through Friday. There are two Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians on staff to answer your questions or inspect your car seats. To schedule an appointment or for more information on child passenger safety, please call (586) 949-3878 or click here to submit a request online. (send an email to Ken & Jim)
Michigan Motor Vehicle Child Restraint Laws