Texas DPS Highlights Child Passenger Safety Week

AUSTIN, TX — The Texas Department of Public Safety is reminding drivers about proper car seat and seat belt use as part of Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs Sept. 20-26.

DPS is encouraging parents and caregivers to make sure children are properly secured in an appropriate safety seat every time they travel in a vehicle.

“Making sure your child is properly secured in the right car seat is one of the easiest and most important things you can do to keep them safe on the road,” Texas Highway Patrol Chief Bryan Rippee said. “Even if you’re just driving around the block, taking a few extra moments to buckle up your child could make all the difference in the event of an accident.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 through 13. More than 1,120 children were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2022.

DPS recommends several steps to help keep children properly restrained:

• Select a car seat that properly fits the vehicle before purchasing it.
• Avoid buying a car seat from yard sales, social media or other secondhand sources if its history cannot be verified.
• Adults should wear their seat belts and model proper safety practices for children.
• Infant car seats should always be rear-facing.
• Check the maximum height and weight limits of a car seat to determine when a child should transition to the next size or level.
• For older children using booster seats with lap and shoulder belts, the lap belt should cross the pelvic area and the shoulder belt should cross the shoulder. The belt should never be positioned along the child's neck or abdominal area or placed under the arm or behind the back.

Texas law requires children younger than 8 to use an appropriate child safety seat unless they are taller than 4 feet, 9 inches. The seat must be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Children 8 and older must use seat belts. An adult who fails to properly restrain a child can receive a ticket of up to $250.

Certified technicians are available across Texas to inspect car seat installations and assist parents and caregivers with properly installing seats.