MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – Lots of families will be traveling for the next few weeks in the leadup to Fourth of July weekend.
Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Michigan State Police (MSP) are continuing the Toward Zero Deaths statewide-safety campaign. The goal is for zero fatalities and serious injuries on Michigan roads.
Aspirus Health said when it comes to keeping children safe on the road, using a car seat is key. Safe Kids & Injury Prevention Coordinator Amanda Tabin said after installing a car seat parents should do the inch test.
“Grabbing the car seat with one hand by the belt path that you use to install the seats and giving it a tug side to side and front to back and making sure that car seat moves less than once inch at that belt path,” Tabin said.
Tabin said children should be using a type of car seat until they are four foot nine inches tall or able to correctly ride in a vehicle just using the seat belt. She also said its important to check a car seat’s expiration date.
“Some car seats might not list a specific explanation date, if that’s the case they would want to look at the date it was manufactured and the industry standard is that car seats expire six years after the date of manufacture unless the car seat manufacturer specifically lists otherwise,” Tabin said.
MSP Community Service Trooper Tom Kinnunen said there several state child passenger laws. One law states a child in a rear facing car seat may only ride in the front seat if the airbag is turned off. Another law said if all available rear seats are occupied by children under four, then a child under four may ride in the front seat if the air bag is turned off. Children under four may ride in the front car seat if all available seats are occupied. A different law said children must ride in a car seat until they reach the height and weight capacity of the seat.
Kinnunen said one of the most important laws deals with restraint.
“Children need to be properly restrained based on age, weight and height in a child restraint system,” Kinnunen said.
Tabin is also a child safety technician. He said his department does free inspections of car seats.
“We also provide free car seats to certain individuals through the state of Michigan,” Kinnunen said. “The state police provide that service, me and other community organizations in the Marquette and north central U.P.”
Fine amounts vary but are about $120 for each child safety violation.
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