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Pick up the Phone to Save a Child’s Life

When installed properly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that child restraint systems reduce fatal injuries by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars and by nearly 60 percent for infants and toddlers in sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks and vans.

Unlike most states, Idaho has two exceptions in its vehicle code regarding child safety seats. A child is allowed to be unrestrained while the vehicle is in operation:

  1. If all vehicle seat belts are already in use (e.g. children can ride in the back of a pickup truck, unrestrained)
  2. To be removed to attend to his physical needs (e.g. nursing, changing diapers, etc.)

House Bill No. 462 is being reviewed by the House Transportation & Defense Committee, which proposes to remove these exceptions. The bill protects our children and sets strict guidelines requiring the use of child safety seats. But, opposition remains.

Pick up the Phone and Save a Child’s Life

Please contact members of the House Transportation & Defense Committee to voice your support for House Bill No. 462.

Members of the House Transportation & Defense Committee:

This bill is sponsored by Sen. Joyce Broadsword and Rep. Shirley G. Ringo.

Not only will these changes help save kids’ lives, they’ll also help Idaho receive grants to provide child safety seats for low-income residents. Write, e-mail or call these representatives and tell them that you support these changes.

If you’re a member of the press, please view our Child Restraint Legislation press release.

We’ll keep you updated on the bill’s progress. And post your comments and thoughts here.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 7th, 2008 at 5:20 pm and is filed under Legislation, Car-seat Safety, Travel Safety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

4 Responses to “Pick up the Phone to Save a Child’s Life”

  1. Parker Sheehan Says:
    February 8th, 2008 at 10:22 am

    I am a firefighter in Boise and also a Car Safety Seat Technician, and I definitely see a need for the best legislation possible when it comes to the protection of our children. Adults have a conscious choice as to whether or not they will wear their seat belts, but children and infants are bound by whatever their parents decide. These children need your help. They need for legislators to make travel safer for them. Please do the right thing when you place your votes toward House Bill No. #462. Thank you, Parker Sheehan

  2. Bonnie C Says:
    February 8th, 2008 at 5:07 pm

    Please support the bill for car seat safety :)

  3. Earl Scharff Says:
    February 10th, 2008 at 7:15 pm

    I am a Police Officer of 11 years civilian and 20 years military police. I have also been a Child Protection Seat (CPS) technician and instructor. I have seen many crashes involving serious injury and death when safety restraints have not been used. It is extremely emotional especially when a toddler is involved as they have their whole life to live. I feel we should protect our children any way possible, even if that means implementing legislation that requires the use of child safety restraints to be used at all times, without exceptions. We’ve decided that children will not smoke or drink alcohol because it’s harmful to their lives. Not being restrained is just as deadly if not more so because it only takes one time. Please vote with a resounding YES for House Bill No. #462. Thank you for protecting our children, Earl Scharff

  4. Safety For Toddlers » Blog Archive » Child Safety Seat Legislation Needs Your Help NOW Says:
    March 3rd, 2008 at 3:01 pm

    […] our previous alert, we brought you up to date on the status of child passenger safety legislation, House Bill No. […]

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