HONOLULU — September 17 through 23 is National Child Passenger Safety Week, and the Hawaii Department of Transportation reminds caregivers to “Make sure keiki are in the right seat!”

What You Need To Know

  • For keiki older than 10 years or over 4 feet, 9 inches, HDOT warns caregivers that if a child’s seatbelt doesn’t fit correctly, it will not offer optimal protection in the case of a vehicle crash

  • According to HDOT, the safest place for all keiki under 13 is buckled up in the back seat

  • Car seat check events are being held on Sept. 17 on Hawaii Island and Sept. 23 on Maui and Oahu

The week is observed in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is dedicated to educating caregivers on the importance of correctly choosing, installing and using the right safety seat for child passengers.

Infants under 2 years of age must be properly restrained in a rear-facing car seat with a harness, according to Hawaii’s Child Passenger Safety Law. Keiki 2 to 4 years of age must be properly restrained in a rear-facing or forward-facing car seat with a harness. All keiki under the age of 10 must be in a child passenger safety seat or booster seat unless the child is over 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

For keiki older than 10 years or over 4 feet, 9 inches, HDOT warns caregivers that if a child’s seat belt doesn’t fit correctly, it will not offer protection in the case of a vehicle crash.

They advise that proper seat belt use requires a child to be seated with the child’s back flat against the backrest with knees bent comfortably over the seat cushion, the lap belt worn low across the hips, and shoulder belt across the shoulder and chest.

According to HDOT, the safest place for all keiki under 13 is buckled up in the back seat.

During Child Passenger Safety Week, the NHTSA and HDOT partner with communities and hold car seat check events. At these events, technicians can help determine if children are in the right seats for their ages and sizes and will explain the importance of registering car seats with manufacturers to be notified of any recalls. Caregivers will also receive free instruction on how to correctly install and use the right car seats for their keiki.

Car seat check events are being held on Sept. 17 on Hawaii Island and Sept. 23 on Maui and Oahu.

Hawaii Island - 9 a.m.-noon, Sept. 17

  • Target parking lot, 74-5455 Makala Blvd., Kailua-Kona
  • Ross Dress for Less parking lot, 307 E. Makaala St., Hilo

For more information on either event, contact Torey Keltner, Hawaii Police Department, 808-961-2226.

Maui - 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sept. 23, National Car Seat Check Day

  • Maui Marketplace, 270 Dairy Rd., Kahului. For more information, contact Maui Police Department, 808-244-6391

Oahu - 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 23

  • Waipio Shopping Center, 94-1040 Waipio Uka St., Waipahu. For more information, contact Karen Tessier, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, 808-294-0402 or email ktessier@hawaii.edu

Caregivers can also make an appointment at any time for a car seat check by calling the Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition at 808-527-2588. Information on child car seat safety and Hawaii’s updated child safety seat laws is available at the KIPC website.

Additional information and brochures (in multiple languages) are available at the HDOT Child Passenger Safety site.

Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.