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<p style="margin-left:.5in;background:white"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">An ongoing effort to save children coincides with national Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 18-24</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">With 3 out of 4 child car seats improperly installed, the Texas Department of Transportation encourages all caregivers to make an appointment for a free inspection at the agency’s 25 statewide
district offices. TxDOT reminds all Texans that properly restraining their children while riding in vehicles is an everyday, year-round responsibility. It’s also the law.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">“We are determined to educate parents and caregivers in Texas about the importance of buckling their child into the correct car seat for their age and size,” said TxDOT Executive Director James
Bass. “It’s not only the law, but we’re also trying to save lives through proper use of safety seats.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">As part of national<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/psas/seat-belts/cpass.html">Child Passenger Safety</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Week,
Sept. 18-24, 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. In 2015, 83 children younger than 8 years old were killed in crashes in Texas. In 2014, that number was 81.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3 out of 4 child car seats are not properly installed. Common child safety seat errors include: installing the seat too loosely;
putting the harness straps through the wrong slots; leaving harness straps too loose; positioning the chest clip incorrectly; and using the wrong seat belt path.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Drivers should refer to their specific car seat manufacturer’s manual for instructions on how to install the safety seat. The vehicle owner’s manual also includes information on the proper placement
of the car seat and proper use of the seat belt or LATCH system.<br>
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To schedule a free car seat check with a nearby TxDOT Traffic Safety Specialist, text the word “seat” and your ZIP code to 876526. Drivers also may visit<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.savemewithaseat.com/">SaveMeWithASeat.com</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to
learn if a child should be in a rear-facing seat, forward-facing seat or booster seat.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">During Child Passenger Safety Week, a TxDOT safety demonstration van will travel the state to show caregivers how to choose and install the correct car seat for their child. TxDOT also is conducting
special local celebrity story times featuring the newly released children’s book, “Bernard in the Backseat.” The book features a lovable teddy bear taking his first car ride. A free digital version of the book is available at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.savemewithaseat.com/">SaveMeWithASeat.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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