Car seat safety starts at birth and shouldn’t end too soon, that’s the message from the AAA ahead of National Child Passenger Safety Week.
According to new AAA analysis, child safety and booster seat use declines after a child turns three, which the organization called “alarming” as it revealed that nearly 100,000 children in the US were injured in car crashes in 2023 alone.
With the start of Baby Safety Month, and National Child Passenger Safety Week from September 21 to 27, the AAA and the National Safety Council (NSC) are highlighting the importance of correct car seat use.
“Saving lives is what we’re all about at AAA, and that starts with making sure every kid is buckled up the right way, every time,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research. “Car seats can be tricky — but AAA’s here to help parents get it right.”
AAA’s analysis has revealed from 2019 to 2023, over 3.9 million children aged 11 and under were involved in car crashes, resulting in more than 516,000 injuries and more than 2,800 fatalities.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, child restraints reduce fatalities by 71 per cent for infants younger than one and by 54 per cent for children one to four years old in passenger cars.
However the National Digital Car Seat Check Form (NDCF) database shows 67 per cent of car seats checked in 2024 were improperly installed or used.
Child’s car seat and readiness for a seat belt can be checked virtually through an online meeting with National Safety Council staff.
