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Overwhelming Number of Motorists Still Not Using Child Safety Seats Correctly, Says VIPD; Local Pediatrician Donates to Cause

Child passenger safety continues to be a major concern for the Virgin Islands Police Department, as statistics released this week show ongoing difficulty with either compliance or correct use of seats. The VIPD this week released statistics from a territory-wide child safety seat check operation on February 11, conducted in partnership with the Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety (VIOHS). According to the data, 80 percent of the seats checked on St. Thomas were not being used correctly, a number that rose to 89 percent on St. Croix. On the mainland, error rates average 46%, according to information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “Even the best safety seat on the market will not keep your child safe if it is not used correctly,” said Daphne O’Neal, VIOHS director.  Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs), who were deployed along with traffic officers on the pre-Valentine’s seat check day, are available year-round to help people choos...