FILE: In this Oct. 12, 2021, photo, David and Wendy Mills, parents of Kailee Mills who was killed four years ago in an automobile accident when riding in the back seat without a seat belt, with a photo of their daughter at their home in Spring, Texas. The teenager was riding in the back seat of a car to a Halloween party in 2017 just a mile from her house when she unfastened her seat belt to slide next to her friend and take a selfie. Moments later, the driver veered off the road and the car flipped, ejecting her. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
SALT LAKE CITY — Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death among children in the U.S. That’s why Sept. 18-24, 2022 is Child Passenger Safety Week, said the Utah Department of Public Safety.
Throughout the week free classes on child safety, car seat checkpoints and other information on safety practices will be shared.
“Kids come in all shapes and sizes, even when they’re all the same age. When deciding on the proper vehicle restraint for your little ones, considering their height and weight rather than their age is most effective,” said Dr. Hilary Hewes, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine.
The UDPS says this week is a great reminder to use booster seats if appropriate for your child. Using a booster seat too early or not at all is unsafe. UDPS notes that a child is ready to transition to a seat belt when it hugs their hips and the middle of their chest. This is generally when a child is around 4 feet 9 inches tall, and between 80 and 100 pounds.
Click-It Utah offers these guidelines to help parents determine if their child is ready for a seat belt.