The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania State Police and Salisbury police are encouraging motorists to properly restrain children in vehicles and educate themselves on the updated child passenger safety law as the agencies marked National Child Passenger Safety Week Sept. 18 through Sept. 24. Additionally Sept. 24 was designated “National Seat Check Saturday.”

As a result of a grant, School Resource Officer Richard Nothstein provided seat belt checks and car seat checks at Harry S Truman Elementary School, provided information at the South Mall Sept. 24 and planned checks at Western Salisbury Elementary School and the Lehigh Valley Health Network - Cedar Crest child care facility.

“Our goal is to make our residents aware of the importance of seat belt use and proper use and installation of car seats,” Nothstein said. “The department is happy to provide inspections of car seats to check for proper installation.”

During the vehicle checks, Nothstein gave drivers a pamphlet describing proper usage of car seats.

Children under 2 years of age must be secured in a rear-facing car seat or until the maximum weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of the car seat. A rear-facing car seat should never be in the front seat with an active passenger-side front air bag.

When children outgrow the rear-facing car seat, they should be secured in a forward facing car seat with a harness up to the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of the car seat.

Once children outgrow that car seat, they should be secured in a belt-positioning booster seat with a lap and shoulder belt, typically when the child is approximately 4 feet 9 inches and between 8 and 12 years old.

When children outgrow their booster seat, they should be in a properly fitted lap and shoulder belt.

Children younger than age 13 should ride in the back seat of a vehicle.

“A properly installed child safety seat can be the difference in keeping your child safe in the event of a crash,” Major Edward C. Hoke, director, Bureau of Patrol, Pennsylvania State Police said.

A new Pennsylvania law that went into effect in August requires a child under 2 years of age be securely fastened in a rear-facing child passenger restraint system, which is to be used until the child outgrows the maximum weight and limits designated by the manufacturer.

In addition, children ages 8 to 18 must be wearing a seat belt when riding anywhere in the vehicle. Also, drivers and front-seat passengers 18 years-old or older are required to buckle up. If motorists are stopped for a traffic violation and are not wearing a seat belt, they can receive a second ticket and second fine.

Because of the potential dangers associated with air bag deployment, children ages 12 and under should always ride buckled in a vehicle’s back seat.

The State Police Bureau of Patrol also offers the following tips:

•Read and follow the car seat and vehicle manufacturers’ instructions;

• Use the car’s seat belt to anchor the seat to the car unless you are using a child safety seat with the LATCH system;

• Fill out and return the registration card for your seat so you’ll know if it is recalled because of a problem;

• Make sure the seat’s harness fits snugly; and

•Use a tether strap if the seat requires it.

For more information on car seat safety and to get a list of state police car seat safety inspection locations and dates, click on the “Public Safety” link at www.psp.pa.gov or contact the Salisbury Township Police Department at 610-797-1447.