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 For the past several years there has been increased emphasis placed on the safe use of child safety seats in vehicles. While most people have a general knowledge of the ages in which a safety seat is required, most people really don’t install it correctly. The many makes and models of child seats, coupled with the vast number of seat belt systems in vehicles, has resulted in child safety seats that are incorrectly installed in vehicles. Statistics have shown that as many as 80-90% of child safety seats are installed incorrectly.
It takes more than just buckling the seat in to the vehicle to make it safe and effective. An improperly installed seat will be of little or no value in preventing an injury in the event of a traffic crash. Both the vehicle's manual and the safety seat instructions need to be consulted to insure that the seat is secure and safe.
The Vernon Hills Police Department has several trained Certified Child Safety Seat Technicians. Upon request, one of these technicians will check the installation of your child seat. If it is not installed correctly, he/she will make the corrections and show you how to do it. It’s a free service that you can’t afford not to use.
To have your child safety seat checked, call our Child Safety Seat Hotline - (847) 362-4449, x4499. You will hear a message with additional information explaining how to make an appointment to have your child seat checked. Please listen carefully to the instructions.
(PLEASE NOTE: As much as we enjoy the opportunity to assist citizens in keeping their children safe, we often find that parents will bring a new car seat in for assistance without first taking a few minutes to read the seat's instructions or the vehicle owner's manual. It will make our job much easier if, prior to bringing it in, you read the material and make your best effort at installing it correctly.)
As much as possible, the technicians also participate in child safety seat checkpoints that are held in the area. These drive-up events are a convenient, fast and free way to have your child safety seat checked.
Do you have any questions regarding child safety seats? If so, send us an e-mail.
To learn more about the child safety seat law, visit our Child Safety Seat and Seat Belt Laws page.
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