Car Seat Fitting Station

Protect Your Child with Proper Car Seat Safety

At the Junction City Police Department, we understand that nothing is more important than your child’s safety. Every trip matters, and our car seat fitting station is here to help ensure that your little ones are secured correctly every time you hit the road.

Why Proper Car Seat Use Matters

Every day on the road, children face risks that can be significantly reduced by using the right restraints. Consider these facts from recent safety data:

• In 2022, an average of three children under 13 were killed and 429 were injured in passenger vehicles.
• That same year, 756 children lost their lives and over 120,000 were injured in car crashes.
• More than 39% of children who died while riding in passenger vehicles were unrestrained.
• Among children aged 8 to 12, there were 326 fatalities—often because they were using restraints that didn’t match their age and size.
 • Nearly half (49%) of the children in light pickup trucks who were killed were not properly restrained.

These statistics remind us that using the right car seat, booster seat, or seat belt isn’t just a recommendation—it can truly save lives.

How Car Seats Save Lives

The benefits of using a car seat correctly are clear:

• In passenger cars, car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers (ages 1 to 4).
• For infants and toddlers in light trucks, the risk reductions are also significant—58% for infants and 59% for toddlers.
• Since 1975, child restraints have been credited with saving the lives of more than 11,600 children under 5.

Yet, despite these benefits, research shows that nearly half (48%) of car seats are not installed correctly by parents and caregivers.

Installation Tips for Safer Rides

Here are a few simple steps to ensure your child is always safely secured:

• Read the Manual: Follow both the car seat and your vehicle’s installation instructions closely.
• Choose the Right Seat: Select a car seat or booster that’s appropriate for your child’s weight, height, and age.
• Install Securely: Make sure the car seat is tightly installed with minimal movement.
• Secure the Harness: Ensure the harness fits snugly against your child without any slack.
• Upgrade When Needed: Transition to a booster seat or proper seat belt as soon as your child outgrows their current restraint—using the wrong restraint can increase the risk of injury.

Schedule a Car Seat Check Today

The Junction City Police Department is proud to offer car seat checks by certified child passenger safety technicians. Our service is provided by appointment only, currently available Sunday through Saturday, from 0600 to 2100 hours.

When scheduling your appointment, please provide the following information:

• Your preferred date and time(s) (we will respond back with confirmation)
 • The make/model of your vehicle and car seat, and how many car seats you need to be checked (if known)

Please note that each car seat check is an educational session—it can take up to an hour. Our technicians are not installing car seats but will check your current installation and educate you on proper installation techniques. They can also offer recommendations on the most appropriate car seats for your vehicle and your child’s specific needs.

Contact us at: carseat@jcks.com

Together, we can build a safer community—one car seat installation at a time. Let’s make every ride a safe ride for our children!