Car Seat Blitz in Georgetown Disappointing

The Halton Partners for Car Seat Safety held a Car Seat Blitz in the area of Guelph Street and Sinclair Avenue, Georgetown this past Saturday, October 2nd, 2010.

Police directed vehicles with occupied child safety seats into the Georgetown Market Place, where they were screened for the most common and significant errors. During the 4 hour blitz a total of 183 occupied child safety seats were screened, most of which had installation issues which could directly impact the safety of the Child Passengers.

Although the use of car seats is prevalent, the statistics of how the seats are being used remain disappointing:

• Of 21 Rear Facing Infant Seats – 11 failed, or a 52% failure rate.
• Of 93 Forward Facing Toddler Seats – 56 failed, or a 60% failure rate.
• Of 69 Child Booster Seats – 10 failed, or a 15% failure rate.

During the blitz 77 charges of $240 and 2 demerit points could have been laid, however, Police, Auxiliary Police and Volunteers either rectified the errors on the spot, or sent the Drivers and seats for an immediate and full inspection / installation with Certified Child Seat Technicians, many of whom volunteered their time, and had the problems resolved before the car continued.

Inspectors conducted 63 full inspections and re-installations for major problems. Some inspections took upwards of 1 hour!

“We saw many situations where forward-facing car seats were installed without the top tether strap. In addition to the vehicle’s seatbelt or universal anchorage system, the tether strap is an essential part of securing a forward-facing car seat by limiting how far the child’s head moves forward during a crash. It is also legal requirement.” A/Sgt Chris Borak, Halton Regional Police Service

4 written Police warning were issued for seat and vehicle incompatibilities that could not be remedied on site. These were issues to ensure the issues are resolved in short order.

Two new seats were donated by Halton Partners for Car Seat Safety to drivers who could not afford their own.

The Halton Partners for Car Seat Safety’s Mission is: “As community partners we share professional and personal interest in reducing injuries to child riding in vehicles in Halton.”

Partners are:

• Halton Region, Health Department
• Halton Hills Fire Department
• Halton Regional Police Service
• Ontario Provincial Police
• The Cooperators
• Milton Fire Department
• Oakville Fire Department
• Ontario Ministry of Transportation
• Community Volunteers

“Parents need to read both their Child Safety Seat and Vehicle manuals. They need to ensure that a child seat is secured tightly into the vehicle by using all the straps and latches designed to do this. Secure your child into the seat by adjusting the harnesses or seatbelt every time. As a contributing member of this blitz, and as a member of this community, I am pleased that 77 children who were at undue risk of injury or death, should they have been involved in a crash, left safer that day!” A/Sgt Chris Borak, Halton Regional Police Service

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