Children at Risk as most Car Seats are Installed or Used Incorrectly, shows AAA study

Posted Friday, September 25, 2026 1:50 am

RINewsToday News Team (via RINewsToday.com)

New child passenger safety seat inspection data shows over 85% of children moved to adult seat belts too soon

A new AAA analysis of nationwide crash data reveals a troubling pattern: Child safety seat and booster seat use declines sharply with age, starting when kids are just 3 years old. Between 2020 and 2024, 78% of 3-year-olds injured in car crashes were riding in a child safety seat or booster seat. However, only 45% of 6-year-olds injured in crashes were in safety seats.

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 over 86% of children evaluated during child safety seat inspections in 2025 had transitioned to an adult seat belt too soon. And nearly 74% of the car seats inspected by certified child passenger safety technicians in 2025 were installed or used incorrectly.

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. Car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers in passenger cars, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Parents take so many precautions to keep their precious children safe, and proper car seat, booster seat and seat belt use is key to ensuring their safety on the road,” said Jillian Young, director of public relations for AAA Northeast. “It’s understandable that many parents may think their growing child is ready for an adult seat belt, but many older children still need booster seats to ensure a safe fit. Free visits with certified child passenger safety technicians are a fantastic resource for parents to make sure their child is safely restrained, no matter their age.”

Only 1 in 5 parents and caregivers report seeking expert assistance with car seat installation or use. 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 identify include:

Car seats installed too loosely.
Failure 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 height, weight and age — 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 for the whole trip.
No matter your child’s age, take them to visit a certified child passenger safety technician, especially when 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. A child’s car seat and readiness for a seat belt can also be checked virtually through a free online meeting with certified National Safety Council staff.

City/Town	Location	Notes
Barrington	Barrington Police Department 100 Federal Road Barrington, RI 02806 401-437-3935	Appointment required Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact: Sergeants David Wyrostek and Kevin Roca https://www.barringtonpolice.org/services
Bristol	Bristol Police Department 395 Metacom Avenue, Bristol, RI 02809 401-253-6900	Appointment required Contact: Sergeant Kyle Batista https://www.bristolri.gov/departments/police/public-safety-services/car-seat-safety-checks/
Central Falls	Central Falls Police Department 160 Illinois Street, Central Falls, RI 02863 401-727-7411	Appointment required Contact: Phillip Garland
Charlestown	Charlestown Police Department 4901 Old Post Road Charlestown, RI 02813 401-364-1212	Appointment required Contact: Officer Matt LaPulme http://www.charlestownpolice.org/services/carseatchecks.php
Charlestown	Charlestown Ambulance 4891 Old Post Road Charlestown, RI 02813 401-364-3742	Contact: Andrew Kettle
Coventry	Coventry Police Department 1075 Main Street Coventry, RI 02816 401-826-1100	Walk-ins/public events Contact: Lieutenant Devin Casey https://www.coventrypd.org/child-seat-safety
Cranston	Cranston Police Department 5 Garfield Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 401-942-2211	Appointment required Hours: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact: Inspector Ryan Dimbleby, Inspector Jared Hardy, or Christine Boduluc https://cranstonpoliceri.com/ServicesInformation/cps.php
Cumberland	Cumberland Police Department 1380 Diamond Hill Road Cumberland, RI 02864 401-333-2500	Appointment required Contact: Sergeant Adam Ledoux https://cumberlandri.org/police/
East Greenwich	East Greenwich Police Department 176 First Avenue East Greenwich, RI 02818 401-884-2244	Appointment required Contact: Officer Abby Cobble (7 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
East Providence	East Providence Police Department 750 Waterman Avenue East Providence, RI 02914 401-435-7600	Appointment required Hours vary Contact: Sergeant Richard Cordierio and Officer Thomas Snow https://eastprovidenceri.gov/departments/police
Jamestown	Jamestown Police Department 250 Conanicus Avenue Jamestown, RI 02835 401-423-1212	Appointment required Hours vary Contact: Captain Angela Deneault https://jamestownri.gov/town-departments/police
Johnston	Johnston Police Department 1651 Atwood Avenue Johnston, RI 02919 401-231-4210	Appointment required Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact: Officer Charles Psilopoulos
Lincoln	Lincoln Police Department 100 Old River Road Lincoln, RI 02865 401-333-1111	Appointment required Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact: Officer Jonathan Sexton https://www.lincolnri.gov/182/Police-Department
Little Compton	Little Compton Police Department 60 Simmons Road Little Compton, RI 02837 401-635-2311	Walk-ins Hours: Anytime Contact: Officer Caitlin Silverira https://www.littlecomptonri.org/town_departments/police_department.php
Middletown	Middletown Police Department 123 Valley Road Middletown, RI 02842 401-846-1144	Appointment required Hours: Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact: Officer Benjamin Costa https://middletownri.com/255/Police-Department
Narragansett	Narragansett Police Department 40 Caswell St, Narragansett, RI 02882 401-789-1091	Contact: Officers Erik Thompson and James Fitzgerald
Newport	Newport Police Department 120 Broadway Newport, RI 02840 401-847-1306	Appointment required Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact: Officer Brittany Ripke https://www.cityofnewport.com/city-hall/departments/police
North Kingstown	North Kingstown Police 8166 Post Rd, North Kingstown, RI 02852 401-294-3311	Contact: Please call dispatch
North Providence	North Providence Police Department 1967 Mineral Spring Avenue North Providence, RI 02991 401-231-4533	Appointment required Hours: Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact: Officer Jeffery Galligan https://nppolice.com/car-seat-installation-info/
North Smithfield	North Smithfield Police Department 575 Smithfield Road North Smithfield, RI 02896 401-762-1212	Appointment required Contact: Clayton Cote www.nsmithfieldri.org
Pawtucket	Pawtucket Police Department 121 Roosevelt Avenue Pawtucket, RI 02860 401-727-9100	Call ahead of time Hours vary Contact: Sergeant David Malkasiam www.pawtucketpolice.com/
Portsmouth	Portsmouth Police 2270 E Main Rd, Portsmouth, RI 02871 401-683-0300	Contact: Officer Allison O’connor
Providence	Providence Police Department 325 Washington Street Providence, RI 02903 401-243-6166 (401-272-3121)	Walk-ins Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact: Patrolman Jose Deschamps, Officer James Annis (while Jose Deschamps is out on leave) https://www.providenceri.gov/police/child-passenger-safety-technician/
Providence	AAA Northeast Headquarters 110 Royal Little Drive Providence, RI 0290412 River Road East Providence, RI 02915 401-868-2000 ext. 2964 or 2126	Walk-ins Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact: Mark Scheildrop and Ritchell Chery Appointment required https://northeast.aaa.com/community/outreach/car-seat-installation.html
Providence	The Injury Prevention Center 55 Claverick Street Providence, RI 02903 401-444-2208	Appointment required Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact: IPC Staff https://www.brownhealth.org/centers-services/4-safety-program/seats-4-safety-program/car-seat-safety
Scituate	Scituate Police Department 1301 Chopmist Hill Road Scituate, RI 02857 401-821-5900	Hours vary Contact: Officer Joseph Scotti
South Kingstown	South Kingstown Police Department 1790 Kingstown Road South Kingstown, RI 02879 401-783-3321 ext. 0	Walk-ins/public events Hours vary www.southkingstownri.com/152/Police-Department
Smithfield	Smithfield Police Department 215 Pleasant View Avenue Smithfield, RI 02917 401-231-2500 ext. 147	Appointment required Hours vary Contact: Patrolman Gary McDole www.smithfieldpd.com Car seat installation clinics
Tiverton	Tiverton Police Department 20 Industrial Way Tiverton, RI 02878 401-625-6717	Appointment required Contact: Lieutenant John Leduc https://tivertonpoliceri.com/child-safety-seat/
Kingston	University of Rhode Island 85 Briar Lane Kingston, RI 02881 401-874-4910	Appointment required Contact: Deputy Chief Paul Ricci https://web.uri.edu/police/
Warren	Warren Police Department 1 Joyce Street Warren, RI 02885 401-245-1311	Seats installed based on technician availability Contact: Sergeant Aries Medeiros https://www.warrenripolice.com/services
Warwick	Warwick Police Department 99 Veterans Memorial Drive Warwick, RI 02886 401-468-4200	Walk-ins or appointments welcome Check social media for upcoming check-points Contact: Sergeant Aaron Kay
Westerly	Westerly Police Department 60 Airport Road Westerly, RI 02891 401-596-2022	Contact: Dispatch
West Warwick	West Warwick Police Department 40 Factory Street West Warwick, RI 02893 401-825-7270 or 401-825-6515	Appointment required Hours vary Seats installed based on technician availability Check social media for upcoming check-points Contact: Officer Trenna Beltrami at TBeltrami@westwarwickri.org and Patrolman Nicholas Santilli at NSantilli@westwarwickri.org
Woonsocket	Woonsocket Police Department 242 Clinton Street Woonsocket, RI 02895 401-766-1212	Appointment required Hours: Monday to Friday, after 4 p.m. Contact: Officer Gregory Klocek/Mathew Bourgouin www.woonsocketpolicedpd.com

Click here to learn more – and car seat installation in Massachusetts

AAA Northeast is a not-for-profit auto club with offices in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire and New York, providing more than 6.9 million local AAA members with travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services.

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