AAA, National Safety Council share new child passenger safety data and tips to help parents choose the right seat at every stage

A new AAA analysis of nationwide crash data found a troubling pattern: child safety seat and booster seat use declines sharply with age, starting when kids are just 3 years old. Between 2020 and 2024, 78% of 3-year-olds injured in car crashes were riding in a child safety seat or booster seat. By age 6, however, less than half (45%) were.

This steep decline in child restraint use is concerning because many children have not yet outgrown the need for a car seat or booster seat based on their size and development. In fact, new data from the National Digital Car Seat Check Form found that 86.5% of children evaluated during child safety seat inspections in 2025 had transitioned to an adult seat belt too soon.

"Parents spend years protecting their children, and that shouldn’t stop just because their little ones aren't so little anymore," said AAA spokesperson Kellan Howell. "At AAA, we're working to save lives by helping families make informed choices. If a seatbelt doesn't fit your older child correctly, then it's likely that a booster seat is still the safest choice, and it's OK to let them stay little a little while longer."

While progress has been made, car crashes remain a leading cause of death for children. Between 2020 and 2024, more than 3.7 million children were involved in crashes nationwide. During that same time, more than 500,000 children were injured and more than 2,800 were killed.

When used correctly, child restraints are highly effective. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers in passenger cars. Yet many children transition out of the appropriate restraint before they're ready, underscoring the importance of choosing the right seat for every stage of a child's development.

Inspection data from the NDCF reinforces the need for continued education as children grow. Nearly three-fourths (73.7%) of car seats inspected by certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians in 2025 were installed or used incorrectly. Yet only one in five parents and caregivers report seeking expert assistance with car seat installation or use, highlighting the value of having seat assessments conducted by a trained technician.

While many families seek help before a baby is born or during the first year of life, fewer return for follow-up checks as children grow, even though more than 80% of forward-facing seats inspected were being used incorrectly.

The most common issues technicians identified:

• Car seats installed too loosely
• Failing to use the top tether strap with forward-facing car seats
• Harness straps that are too loose

AAA recommends parents and caregivers:

• Keep children in the right restraint for their age, height and weight — and don't rush the transition to the next stage
• Use the top tether strap whenever possible on forward-facing car seats
• Make sure the harness is snug enough that you cannot pinch excess webbing at the child's shoulder
• If your child is restrained using a seat belt, check that the lap belt sits low across the hips and the shoulder belt crosses the center of the chest and shoulder. Make sure their back is against the vehicle seat, their knees bend over the edge of the seat, and that they can stay like this the whole trip

No matter your child's age, take them to visit a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, especially whenever changing vehicles, installing a new seat, or moving to the next stage.

To find child passenger safety resources, including how to get a car seat checked and find a local Child Passenger Safety Technician, visit cert.safekids.org