LINCOLN — On Sept. 27, the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) Highway Safety Office – in collaboration with the Pillen administration, Lincoln Fire Department, and Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department – celebrated National Seat Check Saturday.
The event coincided with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 21-27), aimed at bringing heightened awareness to keeping children safe in vehicles through properly secured child safety seats.
Recent data suggests car seat use for newborns to 12 months of age has declined, according to NHTSA. Correctly installed child passenger seats reduce the risk of fatality for infants by 71% and for toddlers by 54%. NDOT’s Highway Safety Office has partners in several locations statewide that offer no-cost car seat checks and demonstrations. Learn more at safekidsnebraska. org/safety-tips.
“Keeping kids safe is a priority for the Pillen administration,” Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly said. “Two of the most important steps you can take for a child’s safety are ensuring that you have a properly secured child seat and having the correct seat as they grow. Nebraska parents and caregivers are encouraged to have car seats inspected to be certain that they are compliant with the law and are keeping their children safe.”
Highway Safety Office Administrator Ryley Egger added: "At NDOT, safety is always our top priority. That begins with the most vulnerable passengers – our children. NDOT has granted more than $55,000 to recipients across the state for child passenger safety training over the past year and provided new training manuals for child passenger safety technicians.”
Statewide, Nebraska has multiple seat check stations in 56 different counties with more than 300 certified technicians to teach parents and caregivers how to correctly install and use child safety seats.
To find inspection stations in Nebraska, visit safekidsnebraska.org/safety- tips. Learn more about child passenger safety from the NDOT Highway Safety Office at dot.nebraska.gov/safety/cps.
