WELLINGTON CTY. – Members of the county OPP are undertaking a car seat safety campaign entitled Boost Me Up focusing on booster car seats for children aged approximately 4 to 10.
OPP Constable Mark Cloes noted officers have discovered that children of that age group are at risk as parents and caregivers often take children out of their booster car seats too early.
A booster car seat raises a child so that the adult seat belt is properly and safely positioned over the body. A child needs to be at least 40 pounds to use a booster car seat. According to the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, a child must stay in a car booster seat until they reach age 8 or 80 pounds. or 4 feet 9 inches.
Cloes said during the education program, there will be members of the OPP along with the OPP Auxiliary Unit, The Co-Operators Insurance and the East Wellington Community Services will be attending various community schools.
They will be increasing awareness of booster car seats over a three day period by answering questions, providing tips, and undertaking courtesy spot checks outside of the following elementary schools:
– Oct. 24, 3 to 4pm, J.D. Hogarth P.S., Fergus;
– Oct. 25, 3 to 4pm, Rockwood Centennial P.S. in Rockwood; and
– Oct. 26 3 to 4pm,,Victoria Cross P.S., Mount Forest.
Cloes said parents need to remember:
– using booster car seats are the law, with a fine of $240 and two demerit points is assigned against the vehicle driver for failure to use them as required; and
– fasten in a booster car seat even when a child is not in it during a sudden stop because an empty unbelted booster car seat can be a dangerous projectile in the vehicle.
