It’s Child Passenger Safety Week and the Illinois Department of Transportation is reminding everyone of some helpful tips. It’s the state law that a child safety seat must be used for children under the age of 8. If the child is under the age of two, that seat must be rear-facing. This is to keep children out of harm's way as best as possible in the event of a crash.

Something important to check on is making sure the safety seat is the correct one. The proper seat can vary with the height and weight of a child. IDOT reminds all parents to make sure the seat is properly installed, as well. 

Crashes are the leading cause of death among children ages 12 and under. Between 2014 and 2018 it was reported that 3,315 children passed away while riding in a motor vehicle. Thanks to proper safety measures, that number has seen a decrease in recent years. 

For more on Child Passenger Safety Week, and to see the full press release, click here.