PARIS – Texas Department of Transportation personnel will conduct a child passenger seat check from 10 a.m. to noon on March 2 at the Mt. Vernon Elementary School in Mt. Vernon, Texas.
TxDOT personnel and representatives of the Mt. Vernon Head Start program and Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will be on hand to help parents evaluate their current child passenger seats.
“Parents can come by with their vehicle, child and car seat, and we will help them make sure their seat is safe and installed correctly,” said Monica Yates, TxDOT traffic funding specialist based in Paris. “We also need to know your child’s weight and height, so please bring that info with you.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3 out of 4 child passenger seats are not properly installed. Common child safety seat errors include: installing the seat too loosely; putting the harness straps through the wrong slots; leaving harness straps too loose; positioning the chest clip incorrectly; and using the wrong seat belt path.
Drivers should refer to their specific car seat manufacturer’s manual for instructions on how to install a safety seat. The vehicle owner’s manual also includes information on the proper placement of car seats and proper use of the seat belt or LATCH system.
