Too Many Kids Are Leaving Car Seats Too Soon, New AAA Data Shows

BALTIMORE, MD (September 18, 2026) – A new AAA analysis of nationwide crash data reveals a concerning trend:children are moving out of child safety seats and booster seats too soon. Between 2020 and 2024, 78% of 3-year-olds injured in crashes were properly riding in a child safety seat or booster seat. By age 6, that figure dropped to just 45%, highlighting a significant decline in the use of age-appropriate restraints as children get older.

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 (NDCF) found that 86.5% of children evaluated during child safety seat inspections in 2025 had transitioned to an adult seat belt too soon.

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With Baby Safety Month and National Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 20-26) under way, AAA and the National Safety Council (NSC) are highlighting the importance of correct car seat use and offer essential tips to keep young passengers safe on the road.

"Parents spend years making safety decisions for their children, and that responsibility doesn't end as they grow older," said Ragina Ali, AAA Club Alliance spokesperson in Maryland and Washington, D.C. "At AAA, we are working to save lives by providing families with the information they need to make confident choices. If a seat belt doesn't fit an older child properly, a booster seat is still the safest option. There's no need to rush the transition. Sometimes the best way to protect kids is to let them stay in the right seat a little longer."

Regional Child Passenger Safety Seat Laws

Maryland law requires children under eight years old to ride in an appropriate child restraint unless they are 4'9″ or taller. Children eight to 16 years old, not riding in a child restraint, must be secured using a seat belt.

District of Columbia law requires children under age 8 to ride in an appropriate child safety seat, including an infant, convertible (toddler), or booster seat, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Booster seats must be used with both lap and shoulder belts. Any child up to 16 years of age must be in a properly installed child safety seat or restrained in a seat belt.

Virginia law requires children under age 8 to ride in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat, regardless of height or weight. Children must remain rear-facing until at least age 2 or until they meet the minimum weight requirement for a forward-facing seat, and child restraints must be used in the back seat whenever possible. Children ages 8 through 17 must be properly secured with a vehicle safety belt.

"As children develop and grow, it is vital to take proper steps to ensure their safety at every age," said Angela Brown, Senior Director of Driver Safety Training at the National Safety Council. "Children ages 10 to 12 may appear ready for an adult seat belt, but many still need booster seats to ensure the seat belt fits properly and safely. Parents and caregivers can schedule a free visit with a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician in their area or online to make sure their child's restraint system is right for their size and developmental needs."

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 (NHTSA), 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 were 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.

●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. Click here to learn more.

●Check online virtually. Without local resources, a child's car seat and readiness for a seat belt can be checked virtually through a free online meeting with certified National Safety Council staff. Click here to learn more.

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 2020 and 2024.

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 102,592 car seat inspections performed between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025.

About AAA
Founded in 1902 by automotive enthusiasts advocating for better roads and safer mobility, AAA has grown into one of North America's largest and most trusted membership organizations. Guided by our mission to Save Lives, Create Member Value, and Deliver Exceptional Experiences, AAA provides world-class roadside assistance, travel planning, exclusive discounts, and reliable financial and insurance services. Today, AAA enhances the life journey of more than 66 million members across North America, including over 58 million in the United States. Learn more or become a member at AAA.com.

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.