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Study reveals one-third of children are riding at risk  National Child Passenger Safety Week is Feb. 10-16.  It is important to remind parents that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury-related death and disability for children ages 14 and under.  Many of these injuries are preventable.  To help parents understand the risks, the National Safe Kids Campaign has released findings from a nationwide study on restraint use in America and the results are shocking. Here are a few key findings.  For a complete report, visit the Safe Kids Web site at http://www.safekids.org. Almost half of parents are making major mistakes when it comes to protecting their children in motor vehicles. 33 percent of children were in the wrong restraint for their size and age. 63 percent of children who should have been in belt-positioning booster seats (typically ages 4 to 8) were inappropriately restrained. 14 percent of children were riding completely unrestrained. 24 percent of children ages 10-14 and 20 percent of children ages 5-9 were riding completely unrestrained.  The serious consequences of children riding in the wrong restraint or without protection at all are well documented, yet many parents continue to risk their child’s safety.  Research is telling us that parents are still not getting the message.  Safe Kids believes that there are three ways to change parents’ knowledge and behavior:  1) enacting stronger child occupant protection laws; 2) enforcing those laws with stiff penalties for offenders; and 3) educating adults about the dangers of not properly protecting children. There should be four steps for children: 1.  Rear-facing seats—For children up to at least one year of age and 20 pounds. 2. Forward-facing seats—for children more than one year of age and 20-40 pounds. 3. Belt-positioning boosters—for children between 40 and 80 pounds (usually between the ages of 4 and 8). 4.  Seat belts—for children at least age 8 and more than 4-feet nine-inches tall. For more information on finding the right seat, call Trident Area Safe Kids at 792-5327.