Secretary Ray LaHood

Child Passenger Safety Week

Garrison Elementary School

Washington, DC

September 17, 2012

• Good morning. Thank you for joining us to kick-off Child Passenger Safety Week. 

• At the Department of Transportation, safety is our highest priority, especially when it comes to protecting America’s kids.

• The facts are clear: Whether you’re dropping the kids off at school or going on a family trip, a child safety seat is essential to keeping your child safe.

• Any EMT, police officer, or firefighter will tell you:  A properly installed child safety seat could mean the difference between life and death.

• Now, I know America’s families are busy.  There’s never enough time in the day. And many caregivers figure that if the child safety seat is strapped into the car—that is good enough.

• But it may not be.  Making sure it’s installed properly is critical and could save you a lifetime of regret.

• The good news is that child safety use is up to 89% for children 7 and younger.

• But, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that close to 3 out of 4 parents do not properly use child restraints.

• We need to do better.  And at DOT we’re here to help you do better.

• We want parents to remember three things:

• The Right Seat,
• The Right Size,
• The Right Use.

• That means find a seat or booster that fits your child and fits your car.

• And make sure you use it correctly each and every time you travel.

• In communities across the country, there is help for parents. You can go to NHTSA—dot—GOV to search for a local inspection station so you can make sure your child safety seat is installed properly.

• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 8 to 15 and the second leading cause of death for children 4 to 7 years old. 

• The right safety seat used in the right way may save your child’s life.

• Now, I’d like to invite David Strickland, the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to provide more details about how parents can learn to protect their children.