LTO sets up fitting, installation areas for child car seats

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will establish fitting and installation areas for child car seats at different district offices starting this month, LTO Director Clarence Guinto revealed Monday.

In an interview over DZMM Teleradyo, Guinto said LTO currently trains their enforcers on how to install child car seats as part of the implementation of the Republic Act No. 11229 or the Child Safety In Motor Vehicles Act, which takes effect February 2.

“[‘Yung] mga enforcers namin tine-train na namin sa pag-iinstall [ng child car seats]. In fact, this February we are now putting up fitting installation sa mga district office namin,” he said.

(We are training our enforcers on how to install child car seats. In fact, this February we are not putting up fitting installation at our district offices.)

“Siguro ‘pag open na ang mga schools, we will go there para we will also put up fitting stations there para ma-educate natin ang mga motorists,” he added.

(Maybe once the schools reopen, we will go there and put up fitting stations to educate our motorists.)

Under the law, children 12 years and below will no longer be allowed to sit beside the driver. Children are also required to use child car seats, which Guinto explained is “for the protection of the children.”

READ: 12-year-old kids no longer allowed to take front seats of cars

The LTO director added they are working closely with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in providing owners of four-wheel vehicles to have better options when it comes to safe and quality child car seats.

“We are closely coordinating with DTI. They are now accrediting ‘yung mga manufacturers, mga businessmen who are willing to participate in selling these car seats,” said Guinto.

(We are closely coordinating with DTI. They are now accrediting manufacturers and businessmen who are willing to participate in selling [child] car seats.)

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), child car seats, if installed and used correctly, can reduce the risk of death for infants by 70 percent and 47 to 54 percent for children aged 1 to 4 years old in an accident.

“A review of various United States studies has shown that child safety seats that are correctly installed and used for children aged 0–4 years can reduce the need for hospitalization by 69%,” the WHO mentioned on its seatbelt manual module.

“Of children aged under 5 years, 485 lives could have been saved in the United States in 2002 if all the children had been in child safety seats,” it added.