Previous Story
DPS to intensify safety campaign
Department of Public Safety officers and child-safety advocates attend the proclamation signing last Friday, declaring Sept. 23 to 29 as Child Passenger Safety Week. Sept. 29 was also declared National Seat Check Saturday. (Jon Perez)
Margarita Camacho from the Department of Public Safety-Highway Safety Office said they intend to intensify their road safety campaign and other programs.
This came soon after Gov. Ralph DLG Torres signed a proclamation last Friday, declaring Sept. 23 to 29 as Child Passenger Safety Week. Sept. 29 was also declared National Seat Check Saturday. DPS officers are expected to do random car seat safety checks.
Camacho said accidents related to child safety seats enforcement are not a big problem in the CNMI as the public is known to obey regulations. “Nationwide, though it increased from 2015 to 2016,” she said.
U.S. statistics show an average of two children under 13 years of age die every day from car crashes, despite being in vehicles that have the correctly installed car seats The number rose by 8 percent from 2015.
She said that car crashes are totally avoidable. “DUI is very big for us, especially during the holiday period. We also have distracted driving, pedestrian, and motorcycle safety. All of these programs are under NHTSA and we use all of our efforts to save lives and prevent serious injuries,” said Camacho.
She added that the penalty for not wearing a seatbelt, if caught, is only $25. “We’re hoping the Legislature could increase it a bit because the penalty for non-use of a child restraint is $250.”
