More than 90% of Tennessee children inspected during 2025 child passenger safety checks had moved to adult seat belts before the belts fit properly, according to research released by AAA.
The findings also showed that 20.1% of children had transitioned to booster seats too early, while 76.4% of child restraints inspected in Tennessee were being used incorrectly.
The research comes ahead of Child Passenger Safety Week and highlights concerns about how children are restrained as they grow older. The data was collected during inspections conducted by certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians across Tennessee and nationwide.
National crash data from 2020 through 2024 showed that 78% of injured 3-year-olds involved in crashes were riding in car seats or booster seats. By age 6, that figure had dropped to 45%.
“Parents would never knowingly put their child at risk, but many don’t realize a seat belt that looks like it fits may not actually provide the protection their child needs,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group.
Cooper said improper installation and incorrectly secured harnesses can also reduce the protection a child restraint provides.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers riding in passenger cars.
How Parents Can Check Car Seat Safety
Children may need booster seats longer than parents expect. AAA recommends checking whether a child can sit with their knees bending naturally at the edge of the vehicle seat, the lap belt resting low across the hips and upper thighs, and the shoulder belt crossing the middle of the chest and shoulder. Children must also be able to maintain proper seating throughout the trip.
Technicians commonly find problems with seat belt fit, loose harness straps and car seats that are not secured tightly enough.
AAA recommends checking that a car seat moves no more than one inch side to side or front to back at the belt path. Harness straps should be snug, and parents should use the top tether with forward-facing car seats whenever possible.
Children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat whenever possible, according to AAA.
Parents are also encouraged to have a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician inspect a seat when purchasing a new one, changing vehicles or moving a child to another restraint stage.
Where Tennessee Parents Can Find Help
Tennessee families can visit the Tennessee Traffic Safety Resource Service website for information about the state’s child restraint law, local car seat fitting stations, upcoming checkpoints and guidance on choosing the right seat.
AAA is also helping expand access to child passenger safety resources through a donation to the Tennessee Road Builder Association’s Ollie Otter Child Safety Foundation. The funding will help purchase car seats and booster seats for community events where families can meet certified technicians and receive hands-on guidance.
“If you have questions about your child’s car seat, you are not alone,” said Julie Brewer, director of the Tennessee Occupant Protection Center. “Many of the seats our certified technicians inspect are not installed or used correctly, but that is why we are here.”
Parents and caregivers can find upcoming child passenger safety events across Tennessee through Ollie Otter’s event calendar.
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