Casualty reduction team hit the road with important safety message

Road Safety advisor Dave Godley shows how to properly secure car seats at the Buttercups Nursery in Heywood

Parents will be given top tips on how to keep their children safe in the car during Child Safety Week, this week (23 – 29 June).

Rochdale Council’s casualty reduction team will be visiting Sure Start and Children’s centres to show parents how to best secure their children in their vehicle after statistics showed that 80 per cent of children’s car seats are not fitted correctly.

The team, who are all qualified car seat fitters, will be visiting the following locations over the coming days to show parents how to make small adjustments which could save their child’s life in the event of a crash:

• Tuesday 24 June – Littleborough Surestart centre – 9.30 – 10.30am
• Meanwood Surestart centre – 11am – 12 noon
• Wednesday 25 June – Castlemere Children’s Centre – 1.30 – 3pm
• Thursday 26 June – Derby Street Children’s Centre – 1-3pm
• Friday 27 June – Milnrow Children’s Centre – 10.45am to 11.30am Sandbrook Children’s Centre – 1 – 3pm

There were 42 casualties across the borough as a result of car crashes between January and December 2013, the second lowest figure in Greater Manchester.

One key message for parents who can’t attend any of the demonstrations taking place this week is to make sure they do not use the head restraint in their car to hold their child’s car seat in place.

Anyone who has any doubts about whether they have fitted the seat correctly can also call 01706 924605 or email road.safety@rochdale.gov.uk

Councillor Jacqui Beswick, Cabinet Member for Environment at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “It’s encouraging that we have one of the lowest rates of road casualties in Greater Manchester but we need to stay vigilant. A badly fitted car seat can be the difference between life and death, so l’d encourage as many parents as possible to come along to one of these events or get in touch with the road safety team.”