Texas Aims To Curb Child Traffic Deaths

AUSTIN, TX — With vehicle crashes being the leading cause of death among children, state transportation officials are poised to launch the annual "Save Me With a Seat" initiative to ensure proper installation of car seats.

Statistics speak to the need for such public awareness. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 46 percent of all car seats are misused. Last year in Texas, 62 children younger than 8 years old died in traffic crashes — with 16 of those were unrestrained at the time of the crash — according to the Texas Department of Transportation. Among children ages 8-12, 56 died in traffic crashes that same year and 21 were unrestrained at the time of the crash, according to the agency.

To stem the deadly tide, the “Save Me With a Seat” campaign is scheduled for launch to commemorate National Child Passenger Safety Week Sept. 15–21. The aim is to encourage parents and caregivers to sign up for a free child car seat check-up at any of its 25 district offices located throughout Texas. To that end, TxDOT also will be hosting interactive events in eight Texas cities, featuring the use of an augmented reality experience created to educate parents on child seat safety.

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“Proper use of car seats offers the best protection for children in the event of a crash,” TxDOT Executive Director James Bass said in a prepared statement. “We are making a concerted effort to make sure parents have their children securely buckled in the appropriate car seats, and that those seats are correctly installed.”

TxDOT’s free safety seat inspections are available throughout the year and take a mere 30 minutes, agency officials noted. To schedule a seat check-up with a TxDOT Traffic Safety Specialist, visit SaveMeWithaSeat.org and enter your ZIP code to find the nearest TxDOT district office. Drivers also can find out if a child should be in a rear-facing, forward-facing or booster seat, and get other child passenger safety tips by visiting the website.

According to NHTSA, child car seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury in a crash by 71 percent for infants and by 54 for toddlers. TxDOT reminds drivers that Texas law requires all children under 8 — unless they are taller than 4 feet, 9 inches — to be in a car seat whenever they ride in a passenger vehicle. Failure to properly restrain a child can result in a ticket of up to $250. Children under age 13 should ride in the back seat, properly secured in a seat belt or safety seat.

TxDot officials noted the “Save Me with a Seat” campaign is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while on the road, such as going the speed limit, wearing a seat belt, never drinking and driving or texting and driving.

Here's another startling stat: Nov. 7, 2000, was the last deathless day on Texas roadways. #EndTheStreakTX asks all Texans to commit to driving safely to help end the streak of daily deaths, officials said.

ABOUT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining 80,000 miles of road and for supporting aviation, rail, and public transportation across the state. Through collaboration and leadership, we deliver a safe, reliable, and integrated transportation system that enables the movement of people and goods. Find out more at TxDOT.gov. "Like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.