National Child Passenger Safety Week NA18180ti

WHAT: Media availability

WHEN: Thursday September 27, 2018 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

WHERE: Valley Traffic Division 7870 Nollan Place Panorama City Ca, 91402

WHO: Los Angeles Police Department, Captain Andrew Neiman, Commanding Officer Valley Traffic Division

WHY: This is a Child Safety Seat installation event to bring awareness to the proper installation and common errors committed by caregivers while installing Child Safety Seats.

In an effort to protect the youth of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department along with the Los Angeles Housing and Community Development Department will conduct a Media availability to send a message to Los Angeles Parents and Caregivers of City outreach programs available to them.

September 23rd through September 29th, 2018 has been designated National Child Passenger Safety Week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The leading cause of death for children age 14 and younger is vehicle accidents whether they are a passenger, riding their bike, or get struck by a vehicle while walking.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) maintains that about three out of every four car seats are installed improperly. The City of Los Angeles as well as the Los Angeles Police Department (Valley Traffic Division) are both heavily involved in improving that number in an effort to make our children safer within the City of Los Angeles.

Car seat use reduces the risk for death to infants (aged <1 year) by 71%; and to toddlers (aged 1-4 years) by 54% in passenger vehicles. Booster seat use reduces the risk for serious injury by 45% for children aged 4-8 years when compared with seat belt use alone. For older children and adults, seat belt use reduces the risk for death and serious injury by approximately half. For more information, please contact Media Relations at (213) 486-5910 or Sergeant Stephen Egan, Valley Traffic Division at (818) 644-8146.