Vermont's Child Passenger Safety Program, Be Seat Smart, is designed to draw attention to the importance of child car seats and to help caregivers understand the 4 Stages of Seat Safety for every child. Child safety seats can be confusing for caregivers, and many car seats are not properly installed. Certified safety technicians are available to help you for free at Fitting Stations throughout Vermont and at special Car Seat Check events.
A car seat inspection is a free and convenient way to have your child's car seat inspected by a Nationally Certified Technician. Unlike Fitting Stations, car seat inspections are mobile, one-time events at unique locations and appointments are not required. All car seat inspections are "first come, first served". All Vermont car seat inspections stations participate in the Vermont Car Seat Program.
If you are interested in hosting an event in your community, contact Sid Bradley, Child Passenger Safety Program Coordinator.
Hosting and Marketing an Event
- Find more information about Hosting a Child Passenger Safety Event.
- More information about marketing your event can be found in the Marketing Toolkit.
Seat Belts
- In 2016, the use of seat belts in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 14,688 lives for occupants age 5 years and older.
- An estimated 328 lives (child occupants 4 old and younger) were saved using child restraints, and 1,859 lives were saved by the use of motorcycle helmets.
- The national seat belt use rate is 90.1%. In 2016, another 2,456 lives would have been saved in the US if all unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants age 5 and older involved in fatal crashes had worn their seat belts. Vermont's reported observed seat belt use was 80% in 2016, 10% lower than the national average.
- A 2013 data brief on seatbelt use in Vermont shows that 83% of surveyed Vermonters said they always wear a seatbelt.
For more information on Vermont Occupant Protection data and reports, visit https://ghsp.vermont.gov/content/reports-and-data.
Video of Chris Bell, Director of the Division of Emergency Preparedness, Response and Injury Prevention at the Vermont Department of Health, discussing the Be Seat Smart Program. Video produced by the Vermont Agency of Transportation.