September 20, 2017 - This week is National Child Safety Week and the Lufkin District is urging parents and grandparents to make sure little ones are restrained safely and correctly in a vehicle.
In 2017, an observational study of nearly 14,000 children in 14 Texas cities showed 33.5 percent of children from birth to four years old were buckled incorrectly or not at all.
“TxDOT is committed to educating parents and caregivers in an effort to decrease the number of child deaths and injuries from children not being buckled up correctly,” said Allison Rounsavall, traffic safety specialist for the Lufkin District. “TxDOT and the Traffic Safety Division works year-round to reduce these numbers and help parents understand the law and how to safely restrain their children.”
Texas law requires children younger than 8 years of age to ride in car seats, unless the child is taller than 4-feet, 9-inches. A child safety seat is also required to be used according to manufacturer’s directions. Not complying with those directions could result in a $250 fine.
The Lufkin District offers free car seat checks by appointment. Anyone who would like to have a child car seat or booster seat checked can contact Rounsavall for an appointment at (936) 633-4315.
For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or (936) 633-4395.
