The Right Seat for Child Passenger Safety

Between spring sporting events, trips to the mall, and family vacations, we’re in and out of the car with our children on a daily basis. There are steps we can take to keep those trips, long or short, as risk-free as possible.

Every 33 seconds, a child under 13 is involved in a car crash in the United States. Car seats, if used correctly, can dramatically reduce the risk of death or injury. But over half of car seats are either installed or used incorrectly, and 1 in 3 children killed in car crashes are completely unrestrained at the time of the crash.*

As parents and caregivers, we all want to do the right thing to keep our children safe and sound. That’s why it’s helpful to stay up to date with car seat safety information, like the tips found in the fun new video series “The Wide World of Car Seats,” from the Ad Council and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The right car seat can make all the difference in a motor vehicle crash. And car crashes are a leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old. But despite their best intentions, many parents may not realize their child isn’t in the right seat. For example, many parents move their children to the next restraint type (car seat, booster seat, seat belt) too soon.

To make sure you have the right seat for your child, visit SaferCar.gov/TheRightSeat.

*According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).