Uniontown, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), in partnership with the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and the Highway Safety Network, hosted a child passenger and school bus safety event at the East End Community Center in Fayette County.
The event focused on educating families about proper child passenger safety and preparing children for a safe return to school. Certified technicians were on-site to offer free child safety seat inspections and installations, ensuring car seats were properly fitted and secured. First-time bus riders also had the opportunity to become familiar with school bus procedures, helping promote safe riding habits.
According to PennDOT data, in 2024 there were 292 crashes involving children under eight across Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties. There were also 23 school bus crashes, resulting in two serious injuries.
“Events like this are important for keeping our youngest passengers safe,” said PennDOT Safety Press Officer Emily Swecker. “From making sure car seats are properly installed to helping kids feel confident boarding a school bus, our goal is to reduce preventable injuries and create a safer environment for children traveling on our roads.”
For more information on child passenger and school bus safety, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/Safety.
Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/district12.
Information about infrastructure in District 12, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D12Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Swecker, eswecker@pa.gov or 724-425-3018
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