U.S. Virgin Islands – The Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD)/Office of Highway Safety (OHS) certified 13 new Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) through a recent 4-day, intense training.
The safety initiative also certified 2 local CPS instructors and prepared 2 instructor assistants, moving the program toward self-sufficiency. “The child passenger crisis in the territory requires an aggressive village approach,” explained Occupant Protection Program Manager, Denise L. Gomes. “By certifying new techs from various agencies and organizations, we create a web of support for caregivers across the territory.” According to local data, 61% of child passengers ride without appropriate restraint, and 95% of those in restraints ride with usage errors that could cause injury in a crash. CPSTs are trained to assist motorists with children with the safe selection, installation and use of child restraints.
For more information on child passenger safety and child restraints, please contact the Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety through VIOHS Director Daphne O’Neal at daphne.oneal@vipd.vi.gov, or Occupant Protection Program Manager, Denise Gomes, at denise.gomes@vipd.vi.gov, or via telephone at (340) 473-7383.
