Installing car seats isn't rocket science

AUSTIN - A car seat can be a lifesaver, but only if it's installed and used correctly.

Whether you're going to school or taking a family trip, knowing how to properly install a car seat is absolutely vital. To help spread the word about the importance of car seat safety, TxDOT is partnering with former NASA rocket scientist Shayla Rivera to launch the Save Me With a Seat campaign during National Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 15-21.

"It's extremely important that parents schedule a car seat check today," TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said. "Ensuring car seats are installed correctly is one of the most important things a parent or caregiver can do to protect their children in a crash."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly half (46%) of all car seats have been installed incorrectly. TxDOT invites parents to schedule a free car seat safety check by visiting SaveMeWithASeat.org and entering their code to find the nearest TxDOT traffic safety specialist in their area. TxDOT offers free car seat safety checks year-round.

During September, the Save Me With a Seat campaign will make stops in eight Texas cities and showcase the Are You Ready for Takeoff? interactive educational experience. Parents, caregivers and their kids will get a chance to learn how to properly buckle up and be secure in their car seats before a simulated journey into space. The campaign also features retired NASA rocket scientist Shayla Rivera. A native of Puerto Rico and a mother herself, Rivera focuses on the importance of keeping kids safe and secure in their car seats.

Texas law requires all children under the age of 8 or shorter than 4 feet, 9 inches, to be in a car seat when riding in a passenger vehicle. Failure to properly restrain a child can result in a ticket of up to $250. In 2023, 47 children younger than 8 years old were killed in Texas traffic crashes, and 320 were seriously injured.

Save Me With a Seat is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel, like wearing a seat belt, driving the speed limit, never texting and driving or driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. #EndTheStreakTX asks all Texans to commit to driving safely to help end the streak of daily deaths.

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