In recognition of Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs from September 15 to 20, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is urging drivers to familiarize themselves with the best child safety seat practices to ensure the safety of young passengers on the road.

“Children mimic the adults around them, so it is critical for parents, grandparents and loved ones to model the importance of wearing seatbelts and following other safe practices in the car,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “A child’s best protection in a vehicle collision is to be buckled up correctly in the right car seat – and the department urges all drivers to make sure they know what those best practices are as soon as possible.”

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 through 13. In 2022 alone, there were 1,129 children killed in motor vehicle crashes.

DPS offers several tips to ensure children are properly restrained while riding in a vehicle.