Child Passenger Safety Week

Enforcement and Education Program runs Statewide from Saturday September 12, 2009 to Saturday September 19, 2009

PHOENIX – The Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) today announces the beginning of Child Passenger Safety week, a statewide campaign to educate and enforce child safety seat laws. Despite widespread efforts to educate drivers about the importance of wearing seat belts and child safety seats, in 2008 more Arizonans were killed in motor vehicle accidents as a result of not wearing a safety device than from alcohol related crashes.*

GOHS, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), funds this program for the purpose of increasing seat belt and child safety seat usage throughout the state by educating the public and enforcing Arizona’s child safety seat law. Arizona’s child safety seat law requires all children under the age of 5 to be secured in a federally approved child safety seat.

“I would highly recommend that all children under the
age of 9 be put in booster seats for trips of any distance,” said Alberto Gutier, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

As part of the national Child Passenger Safety Week, running from September 12th through September 19th, law enforcement agencies statewide will have increased enforcement of Arizona’s occupant protection laws as well as participating in community activities with various businesses, hospitals and community groups, to raise public awareness about the importance of wearing seat belts and child safety seats.

“These events and heightened enforcement activities will
help prevent needless tragedies on our streets and highways,” said Director Gutier. “It is important that before you start a trip behind the wheel, no matter how short, you and your passengers are wearing your seatbelts.”

Director Gutier will be in attendance at several public awareness events during the course of the campaign.

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*In 2008, 320 individuals killed in accidents were not wearing a safety device. 266 individuals were killed in alcohol-related accidents.