East Windsor Offering Free Child Car Seat Inspections At Schools Through September

EAST WINDSOR, NJ — The township is launching a free child passenger car seat inspection program running from April through September, funded by a $12,200 state highway safety grant, Mayor Janice S. Mironov said.

The Child Passenger Car Seat Safety program, underwritten by a New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety grant, will bring certified technicians to schools and community centers across East Windsor to inspect car seats for proper fit and installation at no cost to residents. No appointment is necessary, and each inspection takes less than 10 minutes, officials said.

Mironov urged parents to take advantage of the free sessions, citing national data showing motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths among children 14 and under. According to the American Automobile Association and the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety, four out of five child car seats are incorrectly installed.

"The proper use of child car seats is one of the simplest and most effective means to protect young children vehicle passengers," Mironov said.

Studies show children restrained in properly installed car seats have an 80 percent lower risk of fatal injury than unrestrained children. Car seats reduce fatal injury risk by 71% for infants under one year old and by 45% for toddlers ages one through four, according to national research cited in the release.

Sessions will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. at the following locations:

• Tuesday, April 21, Twin Rivers Head Start, 569 Abbington Drive

• Friday, May 1, Primrose School of East Windsor, 191 Dutch Neck Road

• Friday, May 15, The Learning Experience, 761 Route 33 East

• Wednesday, May 20, Honeybee Day School, 364 Dutch Neck Road

• Wednesday, June 3, Apple Montessori School, 300D Princeton Highstown Road

• Wednesday, June 10, Lightbridge Academy, 149 Route 130 North

• Friday, June 26, Kids Kottage Learning Center, 659 Abbington Drive

• Tuesday, Aug. 4, East Windsor PAL Complex, 30 Airport Road (National Night Out event, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.)