Vehicle Safety

Car crashes are a leading cause of injury and death in children. Every year children are rushed to the emergency room to be treated for car related injuries. Some injuries occur without the car ever leaving the driveway.

vehicle safety

Prevention tips/recommendations

Teen drivers

Has your teen just received the green light to drive? The most important part of this new freedom is ensuring their safety while on the road. Encourage your teen to protect themselves and their friends by always buckling up. Car crashes are the leading cause of death among American teenagers, but together, we can play a role in distraction-free driving.

Learn more from our partner, Impact Teen Driver, about the dangers of reckless and distracted driving and the importance of good decision making behind the wheel.

Best car seat for your child

Rear facing is the first stage of a car seat for growth of infants through preschoolers. This stage supports their head, neck, and back while riding in a vehicle, until they meet the maximum age, weight, and height of their car seat.
Forward facing is the second stage of a car seat for growth of preschooler through school age children. Children should remain in a forward facing car seat, with a 5-point harness until they meet the maximum age, weight, height, and maturity before moving to a booster seat.
Booster seats are the third stage of a car seat and are an important stage in child restraints, yet they are often skipped over. Children who have outgrown a harnessed car seat and do not yet fit safely behind a lap-shoulder belt should ride in a booster seat.
A seat belt is the final stage of riding safely. The safest time to transition to a seat belt is when the child is at least 4ft 9in or 57 inches tall. Important requirements for this stage are that the lap belt crosses at the hips and not the stomach, the shoulder strap should not rub the neck, the child sits back in the seat with knees bent over the edge of the seat, their feet lay flat on the floor, and their head is supported by a head rest.

Free car seat checks

Texas law requires kids to ride in a safety seat that fits by weight and height until until age 8 or at least 57 inches tall.

The Injury Prevention Collaborative offers events where you can make an appointment with a certified technician. We offer FREE car seat checks and assistance to families who may need a car seat.

Click the link below or call 682-885-2634 to book your appointment. Those without appointments will be seen on a first come/first serve basis. You MUST have your child with you, unless you are an expectant parent.

Book your appointment

National child passenger safety (CPS) certification course

A curriculum and certification program of Safe Kids Worldwide that combines classroom instruction, hands-on work with car seats and in vehicles, and a community safety seat checkup event. Successful completion of this course certifies the individual as a national CPS technicians for two years.

Contact us about our program

For questions or information on vehicle safety, contact injury.prevention@cookchildrens.org

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