The Lower Paxton Township Bureau of Police along with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reminding parents and caregivers that child passengers are best protected in a crash when they are correctly buckled in the right seats for their ages and sizes. Car seats and booster seats have height and weight limits, and children should stay in each seat until they outgrow those limits. The safest place for all children under 13 is the back seat, as air bags are designed for adult passengers in the front seat. This reminder is part of Child Passenger Safety Week which is from September 21 through September 27, 2025.

Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children, and the latest research from NHTSA shows that 46% of car seats are misused. The Lower Paxton Township Bureau of Police will be out aggressively enforcing child safety seat violations in the next several weeks. I addition to the enforcement efforts they would like to remind parents and caregivers that by contacting your local police department and having your child safety seat installed or checked could not only save you from a possible fine but also save the life a loved one. Common issues include children being in the wrong type of car seat for their age and size, and car seats being installed incorrectly — both of which leave children vulnerable to injury in a crash. Every day in 2023, two children under 14 were killed in traffic crashes and another 345 were injured in traffic crashes while riding in passenger vehicles.

NHTSA.gov has free resources available to answer parents and caregivers’ questions and point them in the right direction.