Improperly installed or incorrectly used car seats significantly reduce the protection they offer children in a crash, safety experts warned this week. For Passenger Safety Week, experts spoke out about dangerous car seat mistakes that parents make, with the goal of helping keep kids safer on the road.
One of the most frequently cited errors involves the harness fit. According to child passenger safety technician Sarah Knudsen, many parents leave the chest clip too loose, when the correct fit requires the harness to be tight enough that no slack can be pinched at the shoulders. Knudsen also noted that the chest clip should sit at the child's armpit level, positioning it over the sternum rather than near the belly, where internal organs are located.
Another common issue is moving children up to booster seats too soon, or allowing them to use a vehicle's standard seat belts before they are ready for that transition. Safety advocates emphasized that parents should follow manufacturer guidelines and age- or weight-based recommendations before making any changes to a child's restraint system.
The stakes are significant. The National Transportation Safety Board reported that in 2020, approximately 63,000 children were injured and 607 were killed in motor vehicle crashes, and about one-third of those children were not properly restrained at the time of the crash.
Parents who are unsure whether their car seat has been installed correctly can visit the National Transportation Safety Board's website for resources and assistance.
Local car seat inspection events and additional guidance from area safety technicians are expected to be announced as Passenger Safety Week continues.