Drivers are being cautioned to make sure that child seats and boosters are securely fastened in vehicles. A new AAA analysis, which examines five years of government crash data shows that the use of these seats declines after the child turns 3 years old, despite the continued need for them. 

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, more than 100,000 children were injured in car crashes in 2022. From 2018 to 2022, more than four million children aged 11 years old and under were involved in car crashes, resulting in 547,000 injuries and nearly 3,000 fatalities. 

Follow-up investigations of these crashes found that 74 percent of car seats inspected in 2023 were improperly installed or used. The three most common installation errors were: the car seat installation was too loose, the seat was not tethered properly, or the harness was too loose when the child was secured in the seat. 

New data from the U.S. Department of Transportation finds that the use of child restraints among children reduces fatalities by 71 percent in infants and 54 percent in children between the ages of 1 and 4 years old. 

“We know parents and caregivers go to great lengths to protect their children, but it’s easy to overlook the evolving safety needs,” said Rhonda Shah, traffic safety and advocacy manager for AAA. "Just like new shoes and clothes, a growing child requires seat adjustments. Traffic safety is central to AAA’s mission, and we are here to help everyone understand what type of child restraint to use and when.”  

According to AAA data, nearly 4 in 10 fatalities among children in car crashes were the result of being unrestrained. For infants, the number was 26 percent. Experts at the AAA noted that many parents don’t keep up with adjustments as their children grow or stop using restraints altogether. 

The AAA said in a statement that parents need to be aware that changes in car seat usage should be based on weight, not height. The organization added that nearly 35 percent of children move to booster seats too soon, while almost 94 percent transition to seat belts too soon. 

More information about how to properly use and install car seats can be found here.