Spring-area parents can get a free car seat inspection from a certified specialist as the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) marks Child Passenger Safety Week through Saturday, Sept. 26. The service is available year-round, but the weeklong "Love My Car Seat" campaign is designed to boost awareness.

To find the nearest inspection site, parents enter their ZIP code at LoveMyCarSeat.org. A certified technician will check the car seat installation, test harness fit and walk caregivers through any needed adjustments.

The checks are free.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 46% of car seats nationwide are installed incorrectly, according to TxDOT's child passenger safety page. Common errors include choosing the wrong seat for a child's age or size, placing harness straps through the wrong slots, positioning the chest clip too high or too low, leaving straps too loose and using the wrong seat belt path.

Texas data underscores the stakes. In 2025, 69 children younger than 13 were killed and 583 were seriously injured in traffic crashes statewide, FOX 26 Houston reported. A 2025 Texas A&M Transportation Institute survey observed 13,107 children in 14 Texas cities and found 20.1% were improperly restrained. Another 10.8% had no restraint at all.

TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said the program helps families keep children safe at every stage. "We're helping them be sure their kids are buckled in safe when they're infants and as they grow," Williams said in a statement reported by FOX 26 Houston on Sept. 18.

Texas law requires children younger than 8 to ride in an approved child safety seat unless they are taller than 4 feet 9 inches. Drivers who violate the rule can face fines up to $250.

Families who miss Child Passenger Safety Week can still schedule a check at LoveMyCarSeat.org any time. The inspections are part of TxDOT's statewide "Drive Like a Texan" safety initiative and remain available at no cost throughout the year.