ABILENE, Texas — Child Passenger Safety Week is putting a spotlight on the importance of properly securing young passengers, as the Texas Department of Transportation reminds parents that a correctly installed car seat can play a critical role in protecting children in a crash.
According to TxDOT, roughly 46% of child car seats nationwide are misused or are simply the wrong size. In Texas, 583 children younger than 13 were seriously injured in traffic crashes last year, including 69 who were killed.
Child Passenger Safety Week is putting a spotlight on the importance of properly securing young passengers (SBG).
Alaisha Montanez, public information officer for TxDOT’s Abilene District, emphasized that children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat.
“This week is Child Passenger Safety Week. It is a week where the folks at TxDOT like to remind people that the safest place for any child that is under 13 is in the back seat,” Montanez said. “If your child is under 4’9” or under the age of 8, they need to be in a child safety seat or a booster.”
For families who need additional assistance, Montanez pointed to resources offered through TxDOT and its local partners.
“To help parents keep their kids safe, TxDOT has several resources available. We partner with several local organizations who help us offer car seats to folks who are having a little trouble or can’t afford one,” she said. “If you have questions about that, contact the local traffic safety specialist in your district and they will help you.”
A correctly installed car seat can play a critical role in protecting children in a crash (SBG).
With child car seat misuse remaining a concern, questions remain about what TxDOT is doing beyond the weeklong campaign to address the problem.
KTXS asked, “What is TxDOT doing beyond offering free safety checks this week to keep child passengers safe?”
Montanez emphasized that parents can access free safety checks throughout the year.
“We actually offer these checks year-round for free. You can visit LoveMyCarSeat.org and schedule that car seat check at your nearest TxDOT office or you can call your local TxDOT office and ask for the traffic safety specialist. We also have events like the one we’re having this Saturday at Star Dodge,” she said. “It’ll be from 9 a.m. to noon. We will have several child passenger safety technicians available. Make sure you bring your kids and their seats, so that we can check their height and weight. We can make sure they’re in the right seat, and we can check the install as well.”
Child Passenger Safety Week concludes on Sept. 26 (KTXS/Briannagh Dennehy).
Child Passenger Safety Week concludes on Sept. 26.
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