Nearly 3,000 children were killed in car crashes over the past four years, and just one-third of car seats were installed correctly, according to a new AAA analysis of federal data.
The review of five years of crash statistics shows a slight decline in fatalities, but a troubling trend persists: use of car seats and booster seats drops sharply after children turn three, even though safety experts stress their continued necessity.
The risk remains high. In 2023 alone, nearly 100,000 children were injured in crashes. From 2019 through 2023, more than 3.9 million children aged 11 and under were involved in crashes nationwide, resulting in more than 516,000 injuries and more than 2,800 deaths.
A major factor is improper use of safety restraints. Data from the National Digital Car Seat Check Form (NDCF) found that 67% of car seats inspected in 2024 were not installed or used correctly. The most common mistakes in California included loose harnesses, seats not tightly secured with seat belts, and lack of tether use in forward-facing seats.
Statistics show that restraint use declines as children age. Nearly 4 in 10 children between 7 and 11 killed in crashes were unrestrained. Among children 4 to 6 years old, one-third were unrestrained, and for those 0 to 3, about one-quarter had no restraints.
Experts stress that safety is determined by size, not age. Nearly 23% of children are moved into booster seats too early, and more than 89% transition to seat belts before they fit properly. Some children older than 10 may still benefit from booster seats until reaching the recommended height of 57 inches.
When used correctly, child safety restraints are highly effective. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, car seats reduce fatalities by 71% for infants and by 54% for children ages 1 to 4.
AAA and the National Safety Council are using Baby Safety Month and National Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 21–27) to remind caregivers to use the correct restraints at every stage of growth. They urge parents to have seats checked by certified technicians, review state occupant protection laws, and use available online resources if local inspection services are not accessible.
Every child deserves protection, and ensuring correct car seat use is one of the most effective steps families can take to keep young passengers safe.
And which cities do these happen?..do tell…
They won’t and we know why, the truth kills false narratives
im sayin,,,
I’m way past the point where I believe
anyone’s statistics.
But yes, this should be
the most important thing
to get absolutely right.
There are a lot of numbers here, but they aren’t really very informative. It’s often unclear what the comparison is between. Car seats reduce fatality by X% compared to what? Seat belt alone? No restraint at all? When it says restraint use declines with age, does ‘restraint’ include seat belts too? Or does it mean car seats and boosters only?