Who Are We?

In 1985 the Washington State Safety Restraint Coalition was founded to coordinate grassroots efforts for passage of a seat belt law. Shortly thereafter the Coalition was granted 501(c)(3) IRS tax status. Oversight for the Coalition is provided by an all volunteer Board of Directors. Today, the Coalition is recognized as Washington State's independent authority on child car seats. Collaborating with law enforcement; emergency medical services; government, health, and safety agencies; Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians and advocates; along with other individuals and organizations, the Coalition facilitates awareness, education and injury prevention programs designed to reduce the economic costs and needless tragedy resulting from motor vehicle crashes. More than five million Washington state citizens are served by the Coalition. In 1992, the Coalition received the Governor's Excellence In Traffic Safety Award for "Lifetime Achievement."

Our Goals:

Increase compliance with Washington's seat belt and child car seat laws
Decrease the misuse of car seats. Currently, 8 out of 10 child car seats are being misused
Provide training to law enforcement and emergency medical services agencies, health and safety professionals, early childhood education and childcare providers, retail and resale personnel and other groups working with parents and caregivers to improve the safety of child passengers
Build a statewide network of local Child Passenger Safety Teams and advocates who provide child car seat checkup events in their communities and educational/informational programs
Locate grant funding for the purchase car seats and boosters for distribution through agencies assisting low-income families