When used appropriately, car seats and booster seats save the lives of children.

McMinnville Police Department, McMinn-ville Fire Department and Warren County Sheriff’s Department continue to do their part to ensure car seats are installed correctly.

“About 70% of the car seats we inspect pass,” said McMinnville Police Lt. Mark Mara. “Sadly, that means 30% do not. For those children, the chances of being injured during a motor vehicle crash increases.” 

According to the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children in America. In 2019, there were over 20,000 traffic crashes in Tennessee involving children up to age 12.

During November’s community car seat inspection offered in the parking lot of First United Methodist Church, seven car seats were inspected.

“Alarmingly, none had their car seat registered,” said Mara. “When someone buys a car seat they need to register it with the manufacturer. The benefits of this are that they will get notifications of recalls, coupons, and other information.”

Using car seats that are age- and size-appropriate is best practice to keep your children safe.

Mara says common problems are the car seat is not properly installed, expired, or wrong for the child.

“If you are unsure how to install your car seat correctly, please stop by and let us check it.” 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 325 children under age 5 are saved by car seats each year. 

The NHTSA recommends keeping children rear-facing as long as possible up to the top height or weight allowed by their particular seats. 

“This is not about enforcement,” said Mara. “No citations will be given. These car seat inspections are about education and the protection of children as passengers.”

THSO funds the local effort to continually stress the importance of car seat safety to limit injuries.