U.S. Virgin Islands - The Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety (VIOHS) and the VI Police Department (VIPD) have begun to receive booster seat donations. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), booster seats are proven to reduce crash-related risks for child crash victims.

VIOHS embraces community interest expressed to date, to include the first receipt of several booster seats from Karl Browne, owner of Jolly Green Maintenance, LLC., in St. Croix. “I encourage other business owners to support this effort to keep child passengers safe,” urged Browne. “Let’s not wait for tragedy to strike to do right by our youth.”

This initiative is in response to an urgent community need identified through VIPD Traffic Officers’ observations conducted in September of children leaving elementary schools in private vehicles. The drive aims to outfit approximately 73% of students observed leaving campuses illegally and unsafely. Local store inventories are in insufficient supply to meet this crucial community need. The agency hopes to collect and distribute 700 booster seats to public elementary school students – ages 4 to 7 - in each district. VI law requires booster seat use for children who have outgrown a forward-facing seat up to age 7, or 4’9” tall. Seats will be collected through January 2023. For liability reasons, used booster seats will not be accepted.

Become one of our Booster Partners Today! For more information about or to contribute to the booster drive, contact the Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety through Director Daphne O’Neal at daphne.oneal@vipd.vi.gov or Occupant Protection Planner/Coordinator Denise Gomes at denise.gomes@vipd.vi.gov. You may also contact the office via telephone at (340) 772-3025 or (340) 473-7383.

Buckle up, VI! Every trip. Everyone. Every time.