WHEREAS, Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 4 to 14; and

WHEREAS, More than half of all children under 15, killed in car crashes in 2000, were completely unrestrained; and

WHEREAS, Children aged 2 to 5 who are placed in seat belts rather than child safety or booster seats are 3.5 times more likely to be significantly injured in a crash and are 4 times more likely to receive a significant head injury; and

WHEREAS, Child safety seats reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent of toddlers in passenger cars and by 58 percent and 59 percent, respectively, in light trucks; and

WHEREAS, Children, as they grow, should progress through 3 types of child safety seats: from rear-facing seats, to forward-facing seats, to booster seats before using the seat belt alone; and

WHEREAS, Great progress has been made in increasing the use of child safety seats and booster seats, which has decreased deaths among children in car and truck crashes, but much more remains to be done; and

WHEREAS, It is extremely imperative that parents and caregivers know that all children should be placed in child safety seats, booster seats, or seat belts every time they ride in a car or truck; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby proclaims February 10 - 16, 2002 as "Child Passenger Safety Week" in the State of Rhode Island and urges all parents and caregivers to increase their awareness of the need to restrain children in an appropriate safety seat until age 8; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be an he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Rhode Island's Governor, Police Departments, and Rhode Island's Safe Kids Coordinator at the Department of Health.