Safety Seats

WASHINGTON - Parents who invest $20 to $80 in a car booster seat for a child can cut the child's risk of injury in a crash by more than half, a national study published today concludes. The study in the Journal of the American Medical Association provides the first scientific evidence that the new safety products are effective in protecting children ages 4 through 7 from the effects of a crash and from serious injuries caused by ill-fitting adult belts. Parents have become diligent about putting infants and toddlers into safety seats, but auto safety experts call older youngsters "forgotten children" because of the lack of suitable protection for them.

In Baltimore City Man, 24, indicted in fatal shooting of girlfriend April 17 A Baltimore grand jury returned a first-degree murder indictment against Antonio Ben, 24, in the fatal shooting of his girlfriend, the state's attorney's office announced. Shontee Vonzella Douglas, 25, was killed as police had begun searching for Ben in connection with a previous assault accusation against Douglas, prosecutors said. According to the indictment, Ben, of the 3000 block of Edmondson Ave., used a rifle April 17 to shoot Douglas, a resident of the 2700 block of Boone St. The grand jury also returned a second-degree assault indictment against Ben on the earlier assault, which occurred March 22, authorities said.

The Harford County Highway Safety Committee and MD KISS (Maryland Kids in Safety Seats) will check child safety car seats by appointment from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday in the vehicle bays at the Level Volunteer Fire Company in Churchville. To schedule an appointment, call committee coordinator Kathy Acquavella at 410-638-4924. The program is for parents and child-care providers to make sure child safety seats are properly installed and being used correctly in their vehicles. The checks are part of an observance of Child Passenger Safety Week, a national effort to draw attention to ways to keep children safe in motor vehicles.

The General Assembly gave final approval yesterday to legislation requiring children younger than the age of 6 to be strapped into safety seats while riding in a car or other vehicle. Gov. Parris N. Glendening is expected to sign the bill, which would make Maryland the ninth state in the country to enact such a law. "This is a huge step forward for children's safety and helps remove a very serious gap in Maryland's child safety law," said Del. William A. Bronrott, a Montgomery County Democrat who sponsored the bill.

A child car-safety proposal widely expected to pass the House of Delegates fizzled suddenly yesterday after a last-minute amendment effectively neutralized the bill. "I think it's extremely unfortunate that it happened," said Del. William A. Bronrott, a Montgomery County Democrat who sponsored the legislation. "It's a very serious setback for children's safety." The original bill would have required drivers in Maryland to put passengers 8 and younger and weighing less than 80 pounds in car safety seats.

Maryland State Police announced yesterday that the agency will lend child-safety seats to motorists at its 23 barracks and Pikesville headquarters, beginning Sunday. Under a program funded by a $40,000 grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, state police purchased 154 safety seats and will have about five at each of the barracks, said Lt. Col. William Arrington. State police are also setting up "fitting stations" at each barracks, where troopers will inspect safety seats and help drivers install them, Arrington said.

In Baltimore County Man under truck killed when vehicle goes into reverse PIKESVILLE -- A man was killed yesterday when a dump truck he was lubricating outside his home went into reverse and a wheel crushed his chest. Donald Bull, 52, of the first block of Dreher Ave. was lubricating the 1988 Ford's left front wheel assembly about 3: 35 p.m. when he told his 20-year-old son to start the engine so he could turn the wheel, said Traffic Officer William Pumphrey. Apparently unaware that the truck's gear was in reverse, Chris Bull, who lives with his father, started the truck, and it lurched backward, the wheel crushing the elder Bull's chest, Pumphrey said.

MOUNT AIRY FIRE Company will hold a Children's Christmas Safety Open House from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the firehouse, North Main Street and Watersville Road. The event is free and offers something for everyone.The open house will feature fire safety information, fire equipment displays from Mount Airy and other fire companies in Carroll County, photographing children by the Lions Club and fingerprinting and safety fun booklets provided by American Legion Gold Star Post 191 Unit and Squadron.

In an effort to curtail speeding and seat belt violations during the holiday weekend, Howard County police will target lawbreakers, concluding the department's participation in a two-month state-wide campaign and a weeklong national program.The Maryland Chief's Challenge is an annual program in which police departments set up checkpoints to target seat belt violations and to perform voluntary child-seat inspections. Police are also participating in a national program -- Operation ABC (America Buckles-Up Children)

WASHINGTON -- Most of the more than 2,000 children killed each year in car accidents would be alive if the adults who loved them had them buckled up properly.Most of those killed aren't buckled at all. Even when parents try to do the right thing, they often get it wrong because they use the safety seat the wrong way, use the wrong seat or use adult belts for children who are safer in booster seats.The federal government intends to change that.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is starting a campaign today to encourage seat belt use and take the mystery out of using child safety seats.