CPS Advocacy Group Announces Saturday Child Car Seat Inspection Event
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Sep 10, 2009, 0 Comments
Courtesy Raul Leal,
LAREDO (September 10, 2009) – A Child Passenger Safety (CPS) press conference took place today at the Texas Department of Transportation Laredo District Office to announce the upcoming Child Car Seat Inspection Event on Saturday, September 12, 2009 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the TxDOT district facility (rear) located at 1817 Bob Bullock Loop. Car seat inspections will be conducted on a first come, first serve basis. Car seat inspections will start promptly at 9 a.m. Vehicles may line up at 8:30 a.m.
at the rear of the TxDOT complex.
TxDOT is sponsoring the event in collaboration with participating agencies: Babies R Us. Office of the District Attorney for Webb and Zapata Counties, Doctors Hospital of Laredo, Laredo Police Department, Laredo Fire Department, Laredo Health Department, Nenita’s Schoolhouse, Safe Kids Val Verde County Coalition, Texas Department of Family Protective Services, Texas Department of State Health Services Safe Riders, Texas Migrant Council and Webb County Sheriff Department.
Parents and guardians alike who attend this event will be taught proper car seat installation by certified child passenger safety (CPS) technicians since education is a valuable component to learning. Proper safety seat usage, and age and weight appropriate requirements will be taught by CPS techs.
Currently, children 0-1 years old up to 35 pounds should use an infant only or rear-facing convertible seat. Children 1-4 years old from 20 to 40 pounds should use a convertible/forward-facing seat, and children 4-8 years old over 40 pounds should ride in booster seats. Now with the passing of the Texas booster seat law enacted by Texas senate bill 61, any child under the age of 8 and with a height shorter than 4’9” must now be secured in a child passenger safety booster seat. This law
became effective September 1, 2009. While the law is in effect now, officers will not be allowed to ticket people until June 1, 2010.
“I urge all parents to properly secure their children in child passenger safety seats. Won’t you protect your child from fate worse than a traffic ticket or a fine? Their life depends on it,” said Chief Investigator Richard Mendez on behalf of Isidro R. Alaniz, District Attorney of Webb and Zapata Counties. “And parents should do the same, to protect themselves against injuries or death by wearing seat belts because your children depend on you!” also said Mendez.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other advocacy groups tell parents to never use just a lap belt when securing a booster seat. If an accident was to occur, a child using a lap belt only is at serious risk for abdominal, spinal and other injuries.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2006 traffic safety facts, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for the age group 2-14 years old. In Texas in 2006, the traffic fatalities for children in this age group totaled 196. This included 13 children less than one year old, 30 children ages 1-3, 51 children ages 4-7 and 102 children ages 8-14. Buckle them up and safe a life!
