**** RCMP Media Release
RCMP urges motorists to prioritize car seat safety
With the summer season approaching and an increase in road travel expected, Nova Scotia RCMP Traffic Services emphasizes the critical importance of properly securing children in vehicles.
Last week, Nova Scotia RCMP Traffic Services, Springhill Fire Department, and local first responders, conducted a traffic check stop in Springhill in efforts to make roads safer for our youngest, most vulnerable passengers. As a result, all vehicles inspected required some form of adjustment, from improper use of restraints to missing car seats.
Over the next few weeks, Nova Scotia RCMP Traffic Services will be increasing check stops in Cumberland County, with a particular focus on enforcing car seat safety regulations.
“A roadside study in Atlantic Canada found that while nearly all children were buckled in some way, 73% of car seats were used or installed incorrectly,” says Katherine Hutka, IWK Child Safety Link.
Drivers are reminded that Nova Scotia has mandatory booster seat legislation:
- Children must weigh a minimum of 40 pounds before moving to a booster seat
- They must continue to use a booster seat until they are 4-feet-9 inches tall, or nine years old
Follow these car seat safety tips:
- Make sure your child is in the right seat for their age, weight, height, and development
- Always follow the instructions for your car seat or booster seat
- Make sure your child is safely buckled on every ride, including when travelling with grandparents, friends and in taxis
For more information on how to install your car seat and safely buckling your child, visit: https://childsafetylink.ca/car-seat-safety. Many of these resources have been translated into additional languages including French, Mi’kmaw, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Nepalese, Ukrainian, Russian, Somali, Farsi, Dari, Swahili, and Tigrinya.
