Monterey County Health Department Encourages Drivers to Secure Their Future with the Proper Car Seat During Child Passenger Safety Week which is from September 21 until September 27

During Child Passenger Safety Week, the County of Monterey Health Department encourages all parents and caregivers to make sure their children are riding safely by using the correct car seats, booster seats and properly fitted seat belts. This annual campaign takes place from September 21 to September 27 and aims to raise awareness about the importance of car seat safety and proper installation.

 

On Saturday, September 26, 2026, the County of Monterey Health Department will have certified child passenger safety technicians available at 1441 Constitution Blvd. Salinas, to check car seat installations. The technicians will teach parents and caregivers how to correctly install car seats and help them choose the right seat for their child based the on child’s age and size.

 

“When it comes to protecting our youngest passengers, there is no room for guesswork,” Julia Muruato, County of Monterey Child Passenger Safety Program Supervisor said. “Child Passenger Safety Week is a good reminder of how critical it is to choose the right car seat and ensure it is installed properly.”

 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half of car seats (46%) are misused. Properly installed car seats have been shown to reduce fatal injury crashes by 71% for infants less than a year old and by 54% for toddlers ages 1 through 4 years.

 

Current California law requires all children under 2 years of age to ride in a rear-facing car seat, unless the child is 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall. Even after a child reaches these milestones, California law requires all children under 8 years of age to be properly secured in a car seat or booster seat that is placed in, in the vehicle’s back seat. Children 8 years of age and older, or who are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, may be secured by a booster seat, but at a minimum must be secured by a safety belt.

 

Beginning January 1, 2027, AB 435 will require children 8 to 16 years of age to pass all the “5-Step Test”` before they can safely use a seat belt without a booster seat. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to begin using the 5-Step Test questions now, to determine if their children 8 to 16 years of age will be allowed to a seat belt without a booster seat.

 

To learn more about the County of Monterey car seat program, visit County of Monterey Car Seat Program online at www.countyofmonterey.gov/. 

For more information on child passenger and traffic safety and for free educational materials, visit www.gosafelyca.org for more traffic safety information.

 

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.