Red Deer RCMP wants to improve child safety during occupant restraint safety month.
Police officers will kickoff the month with a free event where parents and caregivers can have car seats inspected or installed by qualified child safety seat inspectors.
The car seat checks will be done at Canadian Tire (6380 50 Ave) Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The best way to improve child safety is “to remove barriers that might keep people from properly securing infants and children in vehicles,” said Sgt. Kevin Halwa.
Creating an opportunity for face-to-face conversations with trained car seat inspectors will help parents, he added.
“We want to answer the public’s questions and increase awareness that the best way to protect yourself, your family and your passengers is by ensuring everyone buckles up,” said Halwa.
Donations of diapers, diaper wipes and formula will be accepted on behalf of the Central Alberta Diaper Bank at the event.
RCMP will conduct seatbelt and occupant restraint checks throughout March through targeted campaigns and everyday patrols.
According to Alberta Transportation, in 2015, people wearing a restraint during a collision had a lower injury rate (6.8 per cent) than those who did not use restraints (22.4 per cent).
A driver is responsible to ensure all passengers under 16 are properly secured using either a seatbelt or child safety seat. All children under the age of six, whose weight does not exceed 18 kg (40 lb.), must be properly restrained in a child safety seat.
The penalty for failing to wear a seatbelt, improper use of a seatbelt or failing to secure a child weighing less than 18 kg in a car seat is $155.
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