01/10/2018

Safe transport of children in cars in Rivera

On September 26, Mathias Silva, Training Coordinator of the Fundación Gonzalo Rodríguez, provided Child Passenger Safety training to enforcers, traffic police officers, the Community Police, the Brazilian Highway Police and enforcers from Livramento Coast Guard (Municipality), and staff from other agencies and organizations, such as the Red Cross, Rotary, National Insurance Bank, Provincial Board and the Traffic Commission, teachers and the general public.

A Check Up Point was set up next the National Insurance Bank and the Municipality of Rivera on September 27 from 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. Parents in charge of transporting children in cars were invited to the Artigas square to be advised on the correct installation of child restraint systems

In spite of the Act, only 15% of children under 12 travel in Child Restraint Systems. This piece of data was taken from the Observational Study UNASEV 2016.

Child restraint systems (CRS) represent the suitable protection for children when traveling in a car. Use of CRSs reduces injuries in 75% in the event of a crash, and prevents the child from being expelled from the vehicle and from impacting other occupants and elements in the vehicle.

Newborns until they reach 1.5m should travel in a CRS suitable for their weight and height protecting them during the different stages of growth as defined in Act 19,061 passed in April 2013.

Through Check Up Points, the Fundación Gonzalo Rodríguez, the Municipality of Rivera and the National Insurance Bank aim to increase the use of child restraint systems and to promote a cultural change in the safe transport of children in the province.