HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Is your child's car seat installed correctly and functioning properly? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that a propertly installed car seat can reduce the risk of death by up to 71%.
To help parents ensure their keiki are safe while on the road, the Maui Police Department will hold a free car seat inspection event this Saturday at the Maui Marketplace from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
MPD officials also partnered with the Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition and Hawaii DOT to teach parents, guardians and caregivers the imporatnce of properly securing keiki in their vehicles.
Participants can also look forward to hands-on demonstrations and tips for child safety seat installation and usage.
"We aim to reduce the incidence of preventale injuries and fatalities on our roadways. Together we can make a difference in safetuarding our children and promoting responsible road safety practices," said MPD in a news release.
The updated State of Hawaii Child Passenger Restraint Law requires the following:
- Children under two must be properly restained in a rear-facing car seat with a harness
- Children between two and four years old must be properly restrained in a rear-facing or forward-facing car seat with a harness
- Children between four and nine years old must be properly restrained in a child passenger restraint or booster seat
- Children between seven and nine years old and is four feet, nine inches in height are exempt from riding in a child passenger restraint but must be restrained by a lap and shoulder seat belt assembly
No appointment is necessary to attend the event. For more information, the public is advised to contact MPD's Traffic Section at (808) 244-6347 or visit the Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition website.