Contact: [email protected]

Car Seat Safety Starts at Birth — and Shouldn’t End Too Soon

AAA and NSC Share Important Reminders Ahead of National Child Passenger Safety Week

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (September 2, 2025) — In just four years, nearly 3,000 children were killed in car crashes, while just one-third of car seats were installed correctly, according to a new AAA analysis of government data. 

While the analysis of five years of data shows a slight drop in child fatalities, a troubling trend persists: child safety and booster seat use declines after a child turns three, despite the continued need for these safety devices. 

This is alarming, given that nearly 100,000 children were injured in car crashes in 2023 alone, according to analysis by AAA. With the start of Baby Safety Month, and as National Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 21-27) approaches, AAA and the National Safety Council (NSC) highlight the importance of correct car seat use and offer essential tips to keep young passengers safe on the road.

“AAA has a long history of advocating for traffic safety and saving lives, and that starts with making sure every child is securely buckled up the right way, every time,” said Doug Johnson, spokesperson, Mountain West Group. “Car seats can be a challenge, but we’re on a mission to provide information and tools that can help make children safer when they’re riding in a vehicle.”

“Fewer children are being injured and killed in car crashes, and that’s a movement in the right direction. However, we still have a lot of work to do — especially when it comes to keeping older children safe,” said Amy Artuso, Director of Mobility Safety Programs and Roadway Safety at NSC. “Children grow up fast, but seat belt readiness takes time, and booster seats can help keep kids safe until seat belts fit them correctly.”

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 analysis by AAA. Shockingly, 67% of car seats checked in 2024 were improperly installed or used, according to the National Digital Car Seat Check Form (NDCF) database.

When used correctly, car seats, booster seats, and seat belts protect young passengers. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, child restraints reduce fatalities by 71% for infants younger than one and by 54% for children 1 to 4 years old in passenger cars.

The most common car seat mistakes made in AAA Mountain West Group states, according to NDCF data: 

Alaska:

  • The seat belt retractor is locked when no other form of lockability is used in installation.
  • The lower anchor and seatbelt are not used together.
  • Tethers aren’t used on forward facing seats.

Arizona: 

  • The car seat isn’t installed tight enough on the vehicle's seat when using a seat belt.
  • The car seat harness isn’t snug enough on the child.
  • Tethers aren’t used on forward facing seats.

California: 

  • The car seat harness isn’t snug enough on the child.
  • The car seat isn’t installed tight enough on the vehicle’s seat when using a seat belt.
  • Tethers aren’t used on forward facing seats.

Montana:

  • The car seat isn’t installed tight enough on the car seat when using a seat belt.
  • Tethers aren’t used on forward facing seats.

Nevada:

  • The car seat isn’t installed tight enough on the vehicle's seat when using a seat belt.
  • The car seat harness isn’t snug enough on the child.

Utah:

  • The harness is placed in the correct slots for the child's height.
  • The lower anchor and seatbelt are not used together.
  • Tethers aren't used on forward facing seats.

Wyoming:

  • The car seat isn’t installed tight enough on the vehicle's seat when using a seat belt.
  • The car seat harness isn’t snug enough on the child.
  • Tethers aren’t used on forward facing seats.

According to AAA’s analysis, the latest government data reflects a need for parents to ensure they use the correct child restraint system for each growth phase.

Every child deserves protection. 

  • Nearly 4 in 10 (37%) children aged 7-11 killed in a car crash were completely unrestrained. 
  • About 3 in 10 (33%) children aged 4-6 killed in a car crash were completely unrestrained. 
  • For the youngest children, aged 0-3, 1 in 4 (26%) killed in a car crash were unrestrained. 

It’s about height, not age. 

  • Children are often transitioned out of the appropriate car seats before it is safe.
  • Nearly 23% of children move to booster seats too soon, and more than 89% transition to a seat belt too soon, according to the NDCF.
  • Many caregivers are unaware that seat belt fit is more about their child’s height than age.
  • Based on their size, some children older than ten years old may benefit from using a booster seat. Most booster seats accommodate children up to a height of 57 inches.

Essential car seat safety steps AAA recommends for caregivers.

  • Find child passenger safety resources by state, including how to get a car seat checked, occupant protection laws, and answers to car seat, booster seat, and seat belt questions.
  • Check online virtually. Without local resources, a child's car seat and readiness for a seat belt can be checked virtually through an online meeting with National Safety Council staff.

Methodology

The statistics on child restraint use in car crashes are based on data compiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation and analyzed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Statistics are based on children riding as passengers in cars, minivans, vans, pickup trucks, and SUVs involved in police-reported crashes between 2019 and 2023.

In partnership with AAA and the National Safety Council, Westat researchers examined data submitted to the National Digital Car Seat Check Form (NDCF), a national database of detailed information on car seat inspections performed by certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs). The final dataset used for analysis represents all 50 states and includes 91,618 car seat inspections performed between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024.

About AAA Mountain West Group

AAA Mountain West Group is a membership and full-service leisure travel organization, proudly serving over 6.7 million Members across Northern California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska. AAA delivers unmatched expertise and value through roadside assistance and electric vehicle (EV) resources, along with comprehensive auto repair, travel, insurance, financial, and home security services. Powered by 5,300 dedicated Team Members, AAA is on a mission to revolutionize solutions that help our Members.

About the National Safety Council

The National Safety Council is America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate – and has been for over 110 years. As a mission-based organization, we work to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury, focusing our efforts on the workplace and roadways. We create a culture of safety to not only keep people safer at work, but also beyond the workplace so they can live their fullest lives.