Buckle up.
Mounties will be checking for seat belts and car seats this Labour Day weekend as part of a province-wide safety campaign, according to a news release issued by Oceanside RCMP.
"Car crashes are the leading cause of death among children in Canada," said Oceanside RCMP Cpl. Michelle LeBrun. "Proper car seat use has significantly decreased that rate over the last two decades, but we can do better."
LeBrun is also a Child Passenger Safety Association of Canada (CPSAC) technician who hosted a car seat check earlier this year at Parksville Community Park, where more than 90 per cent of parents failed the test.
"It's definitely a safety concern," she said. "Standards change and plastic degrades, temperature extremes in vehicles can wreak havoc on seats. Damaged and expired seats should be discarded properly, not passed on."
Police say with child restraints, the most common misuse is expired car seats.
To ensure your car seat is installed properly contact Oceanside RCMP at 250-248-6111 and a CPSAC-trained officer can schedule a free appointment with you.
As part of an ongoing joint effort, CPSAC is offering a child passenger safety technician training course in Parksville Sept. 22-24. Participants will learn how to install and use car seats properly and advocate for best practice in their communities. The course has been popular among daycare providers, emergency services, community volunteers, and parents who are passionate about keeping kids safe. For more information visit www.cpsac.org.