Department of Commerce and Regulation
For immediate release, July 12, 2001
For more information contact David Volk, 773-3178

Don't Skip A Step!
Boost 'em before you Buckle 'em!

(Pierre)  --  "Don’t Skip A Step" is the latest public information program from the South Dakota Department of Commerce and Regulation's Highway Safety Office. With South Dakota’s new seat belt law in effect, the state is issuing a reminder to parents to not skip a step when buckling their children up in the car.

"One common mistake most parents make is that they believe that once their children outgrow their forward-facing child safety seats, they are ready for adult seat belts," said David Volk, Secretary of Commerce and Regulation. "The reality is that all children between about 40 to 80 pounds and less than 4’9" tall (approximately four to eight years of age) should be in a booster seat. If a child is too small, an adult seat belt can be dangerous when used. Plus, using a booster seat often gives a child better visibility and comfort." 

According to Volk, children who cannot sit with their backs straight against the vehicle seat back cushion with their knees bent over the vehicle's seat edge without slouching should use a booster seat. If a booster seat is not used, the shoulder belt can cut across their necks, the lap belt can ride up into their bellies and some children can even slip out beneath the belts! All of these situations are very dangerous and can cause critical or even fatal injuries in a crash. 

Five years ago Governor Janklow implemented a statewide child safety seat distribution program to ensure that every child in need could have a safety seat. Seventy-nine participating agencies have distributed over 26,000 infant, convertible, booster and special needs seats through this program. They also assist families with proper installation of the various seats. "With the number of child safety seats we’re making available to communities through this program, there is absolutely no excuse for any child to be riding in a vehicle without being properly buckled up", said Secretary Volk.

Although South Dakota law does not mandate the use of a booster seat, the Office of Highway Safety strongly recommends that parents "boost ‘em before they buckle ‘em". With the new law all children in South Dakota ages 0-17 are required to buckle up in all seating positions of a motor vehicle. This new law continues the existing law for children 0-4 and expands the law to include all children 5-17. A violation will be a primary offense, meaning a driver may be stopped solely for violating the new child restraint law. 

Parents may view the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration's web site for more detailed information on the appropriate use of child safety seats, including booster seats. 

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for children from 6-14 years. In South Dakota over the past three years (1998-2000), 58 South Dakota children ages 5-17 were killed in traffic crashes. Only 10 of these were restrained. "Those 58 kids represent three average-sized kindergarten classes, " says Volk. "That’s too many of our children getting killed when the simplest safety steps could prevent those tragedies." 

For additional information, contact:

Marianne Gabriel or Meghan Hoppe
Office of Highway Safety
Department of Commerce and Regulation
118 West Capital Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 773-4493 

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Two of the participating distribution agencies you may wish to contact for booster seat demonstrations are:

Crystal Wolfe-Goehring
Sioux Valley Hospital Women's Pavilion
1100 South Euclid Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57117
(605) 357-6237 

Bob Archbold
Rapid City Department of Fire and Emergency Services
102 Federal Avenue
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4186 

-- 30 --