According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an average of three children under 13 were killed and 429 were injured in motor vehicle crashes every day in 2022 nationwide. More than a third (39%) of children who died while riding in passenger vehicles were unrestrained. Based on the most current crash data (2021), 31 unrestrained children and teens, ages 1 to 17, died in Oklahoma motor vehicle crashes.
Traffic safety advocates, including local and state government, law enforcement, nonprofit, and community members, unite to bring awareness to Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 15-21) and National Seat Check Saturday (Sept. 21) to prevent the avoidable and heartbreaking deaths around unrestrained or improperly restrained motor vehicle fatalities involving children.
“Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children,” says Oklahoma Highway Safety Office Director Paul Harris. “We urge all parents and caregivers to model safe driving behaviors and to make sure all passengers are buckled up and in the right car seat for their child’s age, height, and weight. Their lives depend on you.”
Oklahoma traffic safety advocates will hold press events at the Penn Square Mall in Oklahoma City at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, and the Woodland Hills Mall in Tulsa at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12. Both will feature a display of 31 backpacks of varying sizes and colors to represent the 31 children and teens that were unrestrained and killed in motor vehicle crashes. Two other displays will be located at the Tulsa Premium Outlets and Sooner Mall in Norman. Following the campaign, the displays will “travel” to various parts of the state to shed light on this traffic safety crisis during the next several months.
Oklahoma citizens are urged to review child passenger safety resources found on the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office website as well as visit with a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician for added reassurance and peace of mind. Traffic safety advocates would also like to remind parents and caregivers that they can model safety for their kids. Research shows a strong correlation between caregivers who buckle up and the use of seat belts and car seats by child passengers.
“The right car seat can save your child’s life. Wearing a seat belt can save your child’s life,” Harris says. “Losing one child to a car crash is one too many.”