13/12/2017

Promotion of child seat use in Maldonado

On Wednesday, December 13, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, at Maldonado’s Municipality, a Check Up point* will be implemented in which experts on Child Passenger Safety from Fundación Gonzalo Rodríguez will provide free-of-charge advice on the correct installation of child restraint systems (seats and/or booster seats) in private vehicles.

Child restraint systems represent the appropriate protection for children when traveling in a car. The use of CRSs reduces injuries in 75% in the event of a crash, and prevents the child from being ejected from the vehicle, and from impacting other occupants and elements in the vehicle.

Newborns, and until they reach 1.5m, should travel in a CRS suitable for their weight and height protecting them during the different stages of growth as defined by Act 19.061 passed in April 2013.

It is through this type of activities, that started in March with the training on Child Passenger Safety to more than 60 traffic police officers and leaders from the 8 administrative sections in the province, that Fundación Gonzalo Rodríguez and Maldonado´s Traffic Police Department aim to raise awareness and to make improvements on child transportation through a more effective enforcement.

The objective is to increase the alarmingly low rate of use of child and booster seats it the province (currently 23.9 %, three places below Montevideo, at the top of the list) according to the Observational Road Safety Behavioral Study in Uruguay 2016.

At national level, only 23% of children younger than 12 years old travel in a child restraint system. The percentage is even worse in children aged 6 - 12, where it only represents 3.2%.

Virtual reality experience to promote the use of booster seats

Due to the very limited use of the booster seats, a child restraint system that must be used by children aged 6-12, Fundación Gonzalo Rodríguez together with Blue Cross & Blue Shield Uruguay developed an activity called Travel Safely to the Future, an experience of virtual reality for adults and children that promotes the use of this safety element to transport children in this age group.

On this occasion, the action will take place during the weekend of December 16 and 17 at Punta Shopping Center (opposite to Sticker store) from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

 * Advice will be provided on a “first come, first served” criteria to all those interested who come with their vehicle and its corresponding child restraint system.