In an effort to help save lives, the Old Town Police Department has intensified enforcement efforts related to safety belts and child safety seats.  The latest national data reveals that 4 of 10 children ride unrestrained. In 1997, 6 of 10 children who died in crashes were unbuckled. For children under the age of 5 killed, (298), 54% were unrestrained. 312 children were saved by restraints. Statistics also show that child safety seats, when used correctly, can reduce fatalities among children less that five years of age by 71%. Safety belts are the most effective safety devices in vehicles today and take only 3 seconds to buckle.

Children are 29% safer in the back seat and are required to be in a child safety seat until the age of 4. Children between the ages of 4 and 18 are required to use a safety belt – regardless of the location in the vehicle, and those between 4 and 9 are strongly encouraged to be placed in a booster seat. Operators and passengers over 18 are also required to wear safety belts.

The Old Town Police Department will continue to enforce Maine’s seat belt / child safety seat law to protect the community, reduce injury and save lives.  Good Highway safety practices are something we can all live with. Buckle Up and use Child Safety Seats.