Former NASA scientist, TxDOT launch child passenger safety seat campaign

PHARR, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas Department of Transportation is partnering with former NASA rocket scientist Shayla Rivera to launch the Save Me With a Seat campaign.

The campaign will be held during National Child Passenger Week to spread the word about the importance of using a car seat safely.

In 2023, 47 children younger than 8 years old were killed in Texas traffic crashes, and 320 were seriously injured.

The TxDOT Pharr District said that same year, there were 11 passenger vehicle crashes that resulted in 12 serious injuries and one child was killed who was inside the vehicle.

Also in 2023, there were 19 passenger crashes that left nearly two dozen people injured an a child between the ages of 8 and 12 dead.

“It’s extremely important that parents schedule a car seat check today,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. “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.”

TxDOT invites parents to schedule a free car seat safety check by visiting SaveMeWithASeat.org and entering their ZIP code to find the nearest TxDOT traffic safety specialist. TxDOT offers free car seat safety checks year-round.

Texas law requires children under age 8 or shorter than four feet, nine 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.

Mercedes is one of eight Texas cities selected for a campaign outreach event. The event will be on Friday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Mercedes Fire Department located at 105 N. Ohio Avenue.

National Child Passenger Week this year falls between September 15 and September 21.

For more information on the campaign, contact Raymond Pedraza at (956) 279-5486 or Raymond.Pedraza@txdot.gov.