Rising number of unrestrained child fatalities prompts TxDOT to expand safety campaign
Austin, Texas – For many Texas parents, protecting their children means checking under beds for monsters or scrutinizing baby food labels. But one of the most effective ways to protect a child — properly securing them in a car seat — is often overlooked. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is drawing attention to this life-saving step through its Save Me with a Seat campaign, particularly in light of rising fatalities involving unrestrained young children.
“We recognize that installing a car seat correctly can be challenging, and while we all know it’s important to buckle up, Texas saw an increase in unrestrained children younger than 8 dying in crashes last year,” the department noted. “If we want to drive like a Texan and be kind, courteous and safe, it’s vital that children are in properly installed car seats.”
According to TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams, the increase is unacceptable. “The rise in unrestrained deaths is heartbreaking and unacceptable,” he said. “These tragedies are preventable. Every parent and caregiver must make it a nonnegotiable habit to properly secure their child in a car seat or booster — every ride, every time. Children’s lives depend on it.”
Startling Statistics on Car Seat Use
The percentage of children under 8 who were unrestrained in fatal crashes in Texas increased from 30% in 2023 to 40% in 2024, according to TxDOT. National statistics are just as concerning. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 46% of all car seats nationwide are not correctly installed, putting nearly half of children at greater risk in the event of a crash.
Resources Available to Parents
To help combat these troubling trends, TxDOT is offering free car seat safety checks. Parents and caregivers can visit SaveMeWithASeat.org and enter their ZIP code to find a nearby TxDOT office where certified technicians will inspect and adjust car seats to ensure proper installation.
Throughout September, the Save Me with a Seat campaign will also visit multiple Texas cities, providing families with an interactive, space-travel-themed educational experience aimed at increasing awareness around car seat safety.
Understanding the Law in Texas
State law mandates that children under the age of 8 or under 4 feet, 9 inches in height must ride in a car seat when in a passenger vehicle. Noncompliance can result in a fine of up to $250. Beyond the legal implications, TxDOT emphasizes the emotional and safety consequences of improper restraint.
The Save Me with a Seat initiative is a key component of Drive like a Texan: Kind. Courteous. Safe., a larger TxDOT campaign that promotes responsibility and respect among Texas drivers. “Drive like a Texan is about embracing the pride, camaraderie and responsibility of being a Texan on the road,” the campaign states.
For more information on the initiative and to locate a car seat check, visit SaveMeWithASeat.org or explore broader road safety resources at DriveLikeATexan.com.
