(Omaha) During National Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 15-21), AAA and the National Safety Council (NSC) are releasing a safety alert for parents. A recent AAA analysis revealed that child seat and booster use declines after a child turns three, despite the continued need for these safety devices.
In Nebraska, 85% of parents transitioned their children to an adult seatbelt too soon and 23% transitioned to a booster seat too soon. This is alarming, as over four million children aged 11 and under were involved in car crashes from 2018 to 2022, resulting in 547,000 injuries and nearly 3,000 fatalities.
“We know parents and caregivers go to great lengths to protect their children,” said Brian Ortner, AAA – The Auto Club Group spokesperson. “Yet, even with the best intentions, parents may unknowingly endanger their children by putting them in the wrong seat or not securing them properly. Since safety recommendations can vary as your child grows, AAA urges parents to take a moment to understand what type of child restraint to use and when.”
According to the National Digital Car Seat Check Form (NDCF) database, of the car seats inspected in 2023, 74% were not used properly or incorrectly installed. When used correctly, car seats, booster seats, and seat belts protect young passengers. Child restraints reduce fatalities by 71% for infants younger than one and by 54% for children 1 to 4 years old in passenger cars.
For more information and resources, you can visit the National Safety Council website.
