2009 National Child Passenger Safety Week

Our annual "Buckle Up Your Child" campaign encourages parents, grandparents and caregivers to secure children in the appropriate child safety seat. This year's initiative places special emphasis on keeping children up to 8 years old in booster seats and preventing them from using safety belts too early.

The campaign is conducted in coordination with National Child Passenger Safety Week, September 12-18.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) wants to be sure no child is left unbuckled and with good reason: motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages two to 14. This year, Texas passed a new law intended to make sure the state's youngest travelers stay safe on the road. The law requires that children younger than eight years of age, unless taller than four feet, nine inches, ride in a child passenger safety system used according to manufacturer's instructions.

The new child passenger safety law went into effect September 1, 2009. Officers will be handing out warnings to drivers who don't properly secure children that fall under the new law until June 1, 2010, at which time citations will be issued.

Campaign Components

Date	Title	English	Spanish
2009	Campaign news release
2009	Campaign Information Cards
2008	In Their Own Words/Buckle Up TV :30
2008	In Their Own Words/Buckle Up TV :10
2008	Buckle Up :60
2008	Buckle Us Up, Mom and Dad :60
2008	Booster Seat Billboard
2008	Superhero Billboard