The St. Louis County Police Department announced today they are joining with other law enforcement agencies on September 12 through September 19, 2009 in an aggressive national CPS Week law enforcement Campaign to crack down on Missouri's child safety belt law violators and to reduce highway fatalities and injuries to children. Failure to wear a safety belt can be deadly. Car crashes are the number one killer of children. During the last three years in Missouri, 56 children were killed and 437 more suffered disabling injuries. The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that child safety seats reduce the risk of being killed in a car crash by 71 percent for an infant and 54 percent for a toddler. This is why all 50 stated have laws that require the use of child safety restraints. St. Louis County Police Chief Timothy Fitch stated "The regular usage of child safety seats and seat belts is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. Our department has participated in this program in the past and deem it necessary to increase awareness in drivers and passengers." For information on Missouri seatbelt usage, visit www.saveMOlives.com.
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