Child Passenger Safety. Buckle up Every Age, Every Trip.

CDC works 24/7 to save lives and protect people. This month's Vital Signs focuses on motor vehicle safety for the youngest Americans. In the past ten years, more than 9,000 children 12 and under died in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. One third of those who died weren't buckled up. Although crash deaths have gone down in the past decade, they remain the leading cause of death for children. Many of these deaths can be prevented by doing what we all know is safest. Buckling up is the best way to keep our children safe. We can all set a good example by using a seat belt ourselves, on every trip, no matter how short. Health care providers can help by staying up-to-date on child passenger safety guidelines and counseling parents on using age- and size-appropriate car seats, booster seats, and seat belts on every trip. States and communities can help by offering car seat and booster seat give-away programs that include education, and increasing the required age for car seat and booster seat use. Buckling up properly saves lives. No trip is too short. Buckle every person. Every seat. Every trip.