Child Passenger Safety Week


Did you know that every 33 seconds a child under 13 is involved in a car crash in the United States due to incorrect or misuse of a car seat?

That alone is a startling statistic, not to mention that over half of car seats are either installed or used incorrectly, and 1 in 3 children killed in car crashes in 2015 was not in a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt at the time of the crash.

For most of us, grabbing our gear and running out the door and hoping in the car is an everyday occurrence. Maybe you are headed to work, a play date, or on vacation – but we spend a lot of times in our cars. When we have little ones, we put them in their car seat and buckle them up without a second thought to whether or not they are in the right seat. We trust that they are safe – and we go on our way.

Can you imagine? Thinking that your child is in the right car seat, only to find out that they aren’t!

Child Passenger Safety Week

This year, child passenger safety week runs September 23rd-29th – this is basically THE perfect time to brush up on car seat safety tips and make sure your child is in the right seat, with the right fit and installation. It really doesn’t take much time or effort, so why not be sure?

Over the course of next week, more than 1000 events will be held in as many as  45 states across the country to raise awareness for proper car seat installation and usage. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will help parents and caregivers make sure their car seats are installed correctly. In most cases, this service is FREE. You really can’t beat that – plus they make these events a ton of fun for kids!

What You Need to Know:

There are many car seat choices on the market.

  • Select a car seat based on your child’s age and size, choose a seat that fits in your vehicle, and use it every time.
  • Always refer to your specific car seat manufacturer’s instructions (check height and weight limits) and read the vehicle owner’s manual on how to install the car seat using the seat belt or lower anchors and a tether, if available.
  • To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements.
  • Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.

Be smart! To make sure you have the right seat for your child, visit NHTSA.gov/TheRightSeat, or find a Child Passenger Safety Week event in your area. During Child Passenger Safety Week, many communities will have Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians on-hand to provide education on how to use car seats, booster seats, and seat belts for children. To find events near you, including free car seat checks, visit the NHTSA database. If you cannot make it to an event, resources like NHTSA.gov/TheRightSeat, have videos about how to install car seats and booster seats correctly and guides to picking the right seat by age and size.