A joint resolution to designate the week of February 7-13, 1988, as " National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week".
PL 100-245 (H.J.Res.402), enacted 02/10/1988

102 STAT. 6 
PUBLIC LAW 100-245—FEB. 10, 1988 
Public Law 100-245 
100th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
Feb. 10, 1988 
To designate the week of February 7-13, 1988, as "National Child Passenger Safety 
[H.J. Res. 402] 
Awareness Week". 
Whereas motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death of 
children over the age of 6 months in the United States; 
Whereas motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of the 
crippling of children in the United States; 
Whereas more children under the age of 5 years are killed or 
crippled as passengers involved in motor vehicle crashes than the 
total number of children killed or crippled by the 7 most common 
childhood diseases; pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, diphthe-
ria, measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), and polio; 
Whereas motor vehicle crashes are the leading trauma related cause 
of spinal cord injuries, epilepsy, and mental retardation in the 
United States; 
Whereas, during the years 1978 through 1986, nearly 9,300 children 
under the age of 5 years were killed in traffic crashes and more 
than 450,000 children were injured in the United States; 
Whereas an unrestrained child is less protected by padding and 
energy-absorbing materials than an adult in a motor vehicle crash 
as a result of protective devices being placed in areas more likely 
to benefit adults; 
Whereas unrestrained children are subject to a significantly higher 
risk of serious head, spine, chest, and abdominal injury in motor 
vehicle crashes than adult passengers because the bodies of chil-
dren are less developed and provide less protection; 
Whereas an unrestrained child in a motor vehicle crash faces an 
increased danger of fatal or serious injury from ejection as well as 
injuries resulting from contact with the vehicle interior; 
Whereas an unrestrained child in a motor vehicle not involved in a 
collision may be killed or injured as a result of sudden stops, 
turns, swerves, or falling from a moving vehicle; 
Whereas all 50 States and the District of Columbia have enacted 
laws mandating the use of child passenger protection systems; 
Whereas the latest national surveys show that 72 percent of 
children under the age of 5 are placed in child safety seats in the 
United States and that one-third of such seats are used 
incorrectly; 
Whereas current nationwide studies estimate that only 48 percent of 
children under the age of 5 are fully protected in cars in the 
United States through the correct usage of child safety seats; 
Whereas numerous government and private sector organizations 
have agreed to work in concert to achieve a minimum 70 percent 
correct usage of child passenger protection devices and adult 
safety belts by the year 1990; 
Whereas research shows that the correct use of child passenger 
protection devices is 90 percent effective in preventing death and 
67 percent effective in preventing injury; and 
PUBLIC LAW 100-245—FEB. 10,1988 
102 STAT. 7 
Whereas death and injuries may be reduced significantly through 
greater public awareness, information, education, and enforce-
ment: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the week of February 
7-13, 1988, is designated as "National Child Passenger Safety 
Awareness Week", and the President is authorized and requested to 
issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to 
observe such week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and 
activities to maximize correct usage of child safety seats. 
Approved February 10, 1988. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.J. Res. 402 (S.J. Res. 214): 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 134 (1988): 
Feb. 3, considered and passed House. 
Feb. 4, considered and passed Senate.