Child passenger safety information now offered in multiple languages

BCAA Road Safety Foundation and ICBC are helping British Columbians keep their kids safe

BURNABY, BC, Nov. 26, 2012 /CNW/ - The BCAA RSF / ICBC Child Passenger Safety program now offers important child passenger safety information in five languages other than English to better meet the needs of new British Columbians.

"Car crashes are one of the leading causes of accidental death among children in B.C.", said Mary Polak, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. "Because the safety of motorists is our top priority, we are providing child passenger safety information in multiple languages to help families protect their children."

Every time a child travels as a passenger in a motor vehicle, they are at risk of being involved in a collision. Research (see editor's notes below), shows that a correctly used child safety seat reduces the risk of fatality by 71 per cent and the risk of serious injury by 67 per cent.

The child passenger safety Law Card and information on ChildSeatInfo.ca are now available in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish and Korean.  These resources explain B.C.'s child car seat laws and offer information about how to choose a child car or booster seat appropriate for your child's age, weight and height, and how to correctly install one in your vehicle.

"Sadly, an average of 1400 children under the age of nine are injured and five are killed in car crashes every year in B.C.," said John Dickinson, ICBC director of road safety. "These tragedies are preventable. We know it can be stressful to face a language barrier, which is why we want to help parents understand how to keep their children safe in vehicles."

New data released by Statistics Canada from the 2011 census reports that in B.C., approximately one quarter of the population have a native language other than English or French. Punjabi was found to be the most common non-official language spoken in homes, followed by Cantonese and Mandarin.

According to the BC Statistics report, "British Columbia 2036 PEOPLE 35", the province is expecting a net gain of approximately 1.3 million people from other parts of the world over the next 24 years. Many immigrants not only face a language barrier but also come from countries with very different, or no seatbelt and child passenger safety laws.

The child car seat information cards will be available through the BCAA Road Safety Foundation . Call 1-877-247-5551 or visit ChildSeatInfo.ca for copies.

In B.C., drivers are responsible by law for transporting all children in a secure age - and weight - appropriate child car seat or booster seat until their ninth birthday or they reach 145 centimeters (4'9") in height.

As the adult driver, it is your responsibility to make sure that all your passengers are properly secured with seatbelts or a child car or booster seats.

The BCAA RSF / ICBC Child Passenger Safety Program educates parents, caregivers, and professionals about the importance of child passenger safety.

Visit ChildSeatInfo.ca for more information about the BCAA RSF / ICBC Child Passenger Safety Program or to register for a workshop. You may also call the toll free information line 1-877-247-5551.

Editor's Notes:

Reference:  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Research note: revised estimates of child restraint effectiveness. Washington, D.C: US Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1996. Report No. 96.855.

Available for Interview:
Marg Deibert, Senior Child Passenger Safety Program Trainer/Educator, BCAA Road Safety Foundation

About ICBC

At ICBC, we're committed to our 3.3 million customers and their safety on the road. We license and insure drivers and vehicles across the province through our service centres, plus a network of more than 900 independent brokers and government agent offices. Claims customers are served through local offices and our award-winning Dial-a-Claim call centre. We add value to B.C. communities - our road safety investments help create safer roads and lead to fewer crashes. To find out more, visit icbc.com.

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/icbc.

About BCAA Road Safety Foundation

The BCAA Road Safety Foundation is a non-profit registered charity working with families, communities and business partners to reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes and injuries in B.C. For more information, visit www.BCAARoadSafety.com, or call 604-298-5107.

www.bcaaroadsafety.com

URL for this media release is: http://www.bcaaroadsafety.com/category/news-releases/

SOURCE: BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation

Media Contact:
Lennea Durant 
Media Relations
BCAA Road Safety Foundation
Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]