Free child passenger safety seat checkups will be available across the region as the agencies mark National Child Passenger Safety Week on Sunday, Sept. 18, through Saturday, Sept. 24, and PennDOT and the Pennsylvania State Police are encouraging motorists to participate.

PennDOT funds resources such as training and educational materials for child passenger fitting stations across Pennsylvania designed to teach parents the proper installation and use of child safety seats, a PennDOT press release said.

Pennsylvania Child Passenger Safety Protection Law requires all drivers to secure infants and children under 8 years of age in an approved child restraint/booster when the child is riding anywhere in the motor vehicle, including the cargo area; secure children younger than 2 years of age in a rear-facing child passenger restraint system, to be used until the child outgrows the maximum weight and height limits designated by the car seat manufacturer; and secure children 4 years of age or older but under 8 years of age in a seat belt system and an appropriately fitting child booster seat, the release said.

Pennsylvania’s Safety Belt Law mandates that children ages 8 through 17 must use a seat belt. Violating this law constitutes a primary offense. In addition, drivers under 18 years of age may not operate a motor vehicle in which the number of passengers exceeds the number of available safety seat belts in the vehicle; a violation represents a primary offense. And drivers and front-seat passengers age 18 and older must be properly restrained; violating this law is a secondary offense.

Because of the potential dangers associated with air bag deployment, children ages 12 and under should always ride buckled in a vehicle’s back seat.

The State Police Bureau of Patrol also offers the following tips:

• Read and follow the car seat and vehicle manufacturers’ instructions.
• Use the car seat’s seat belt or LATCH system to secure the child restraint to the car.
• Fill out and return the registration card for your seat so you'll know if it is recalled because of a problem.
• Make sure the seat’s harness fits snugly.
• Use a tether strap if the seat requires it.

Here are the free child safety seat check events that are scheduled locally next week:

On Monday, Sept. 19, and Friday, Sept. 23, the state police barracks in Media, 1342 West Baltimore Pike, Media, 19063, will conduct checks from 3 to 6 p.m., and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. respectively. Call 484-840-1000.

On Wednesday, Sept. 21: Paoli Hospital, 255 West Lancaster Ave., Paoli, Pa., 19301 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 610-906-2711; Avondale Fire Company, 23 Firehouse Way, Avondale, Pa., 19311, 2 to 8 p.m., 610-268-2022; and West Bradford Fire Company, 1385 Campus Drive, Downingtown, Pa., 19335, 2 to 8 p.m., 610-486-6280.

On Thursday, Sept. 22, the public can visit the West Goshen Police Department, 1025 Paoli Pike, West Chester, Pa., 19380, 9 a.m. to noon, 610-906-2711.

For more information on car seat safety and to get a list of state police car seat safety inspection locations and dates, click on the "Public Safety" link at www.psp.state.pa.us. To view a list of PennDOT-supported car seat checks and see how PennDOT promotes child passenger safety, visit www.penndot.gov/safety.