CHILD SEATS IN TAXIS A GOOD IDEA

Cape Girardeau's Safe Communities will make taxi rides a little safer for children.

The group donated 10 child safety seats to Kelly Transportation for use in its taxis. The donation didn't stop there. Program members will train the Kelly workers on proper installation and use of the seats.

Missouri law requires any child under the age of four to travel in a passenger restraint system. The law doesn't extend to public transportation such as cab companies.

Child safety seats have proven effective in saving lives. But more work is left to be done. Motor vehicle injury is one of the leading killers of children over the age of one.

Safe Communities operates from the Cape Girardeau Police Department. It does an admirable job each year in educating the community about safety seats, seat belts as well as bike and pedestrian safety.

Organizers donated these seats not because of some government regulation or mandate. This kind of initiative can be hard to find these days. The taxi company also deserves praise for accepting the responsibility of using the child seats. Again, they are not mandated by law but are doing so as a community service.

It is great to see partners working together for the betterment of our community.