Child Passenger Safety Week is underway in North Carolina

RALEIGH, North Carolina (WTVD) -- Child Passenger Safety Week is underway in North Carolina. The Governor's Highway Safety Program says the week aims to bring awareness to parents and caregivers to make sure their children ride as safely as possible at all times.

Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed September 17-24 as "Child Passenger Safety Week" and September 23 as "Child Passenger Safety Day."

The week is full of free events and resources for parents to ensure their child's safety when driving. The North Carolina Child Passenger Safety Law requires children younger than age 16 to be properly restrained in an age, weight, and height appropriate restraint.

Children should ride rear-facing as long as possible (at least until age 2) up to the top height or weight allowed by their seat. Once your child outgrows the seat's rear-facing capabilities, the child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness. After outgrowing the forward-facing car seat by height or weight, children should ride in a booster seat until the seat belt fits properly on its own.

To learn more about Child Passenger Safety Week, visit the Governor's Highway Safety Program website and BuckleUpNC.org is where you can find the calendar of events.