NHTSA and Kentucky State Police Post 16 Celebrate Child Passenger Safety Week, September 20-26, 2026
HENDERSON, Ky. (September 21, 2026) – Every year, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration celebrates Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs this year from September 20-26, 2026. The annual safety week culminates by providing a day for parents and caregivers to receive free instruction on how to correctly install and use the right car seats for their children. Kentucky State Police Post 16 announced today that certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be offering free car seat safety checks and hands-on education to parents and caregivers on Seat Check Saturday, beginning at 9:00 am at Ohio County EMS station located off KY-69 in Hartford, Kentucky and running until 5:00pm.
“Unfortunately, many parents are overconfident about their car seats,” said Kentucky State Police Trooper Michael Wathen. “They think they’re protecting their kids, but almost half of car seats are either the wrong seat for the child’s age and size, or the seats are installed incorrectly. That puts children at risk.” added Trooper Wathen.
When it comes to child passengers, there is a right seat for every size and developmental stage — from infants to teens. Whether it’s a rear-facing or forward-facing car seat, a booster seat, or a seat belt, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can put parents’ minds at ease by confirming which seat is correct for their children and showing them how to correctly install that seat in their vehicle. Children should stay in each seat and position until they outgrow the height or weight limits for the car seat, and it’s important for all children under 13 to ride buckled up in the back seat.
If parents and caregivers are not available for Friday’s seat check, but would still like to have their car seats checked, they can find out if a technician is available in their community by visiting NHTSA.gov/CarSeatInspection. Parents can filter search results by Spanish-speaking technicians, virtual appointments, and local Child Passenger Safety Week events. NHTSA.gov also has free resources available: Learn about the different car seat types, read NHTSA’s research-based recommendations, and find and compare car seats.
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to register their car seats with the manufacturer so they can be notified in the event of a recall. They can also download NHTSA’s SaferCar app, which allows users to save their vehicle, car seat, and tire information in a virtual garage. If any of the saved equipment is included in a safety recall, the app will send a notification.
For more information on child passenger safety, go to NHTSA.gov/TheRightSeat.
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