Car Seat Statistics in 2024 (Latest U.S. Data)
Safety awareness and use of child safety seats among U.S. parents are rather high, but traffic crashes are still a leading cause of death of children.
Car seat statistics show that many young lives can be saved by using appropriate restraint systems the right way.
Car Seat Statistics
Overview of statistics on car seat usage and safety:
- Motor vehicle traffic crashes are a leading cause of death of children in the U.S.
- Each year, about 5,000 children are involved in car crashes, 18% are unrestrained.
- Child safety seats reduce fatal injury by 71% for infants, 54% for toddlers.
- The safest place for a car seat is the rear middle seat.
- Children up to 12 months have the highest restraint use (91%), ages 13 to 14 the lowest (29%).
- 49% of child safety seats in the U.S. are installed or used improperly.
- About 7.5% of children 1 to 3 years old are prematurely transitioned to booster seats.
- One in 5 parents says it’s acceptable to leave their child unrestrained for short trips.
- 56% of children are unrestrained when the driver is alcohol-impaired.
- The total cost of car crash occupants’ injuries in the U.S. is $283 billion annually.
1. Motor vehicle traffic crashes are a leading cause of death of children in the U.S.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) latest car seat crash statistics (2020), vehicle traffic crashes are a leading cause of death of children ages 1 to 14. (1)
| Causes of Death In 2020 | No. of Deaths Ages 1-4 | No. of Deaths Ages 5-9 | No. of Deaths Ages 10-14 | Total Deaths Ages 1-14 |
| MV traffic | 284 | 319 | 476 | 1,079 |
| Drowning | 425 | 117 | 91 | 633 |
| Suffocation | 118 | 38 | 33 | 189 |
| Fire/Burn | 75 | 60 | 45 | 180 |
| Other land transport | 19 | 33 | 52 | 104 |
| Poisoning | 37 | 9 | 52 | 98 |
The child death car accident statistics show that in 2020, the leading type of injury for children is unintentional injury.
There were 1,079 fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes followed by drowning (633), suffocation (189), and fire (180).
Every day, 3 children’s lives are lost and 380 injured in traffic crashes.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) latest car seat fatality statistics, on average 3 children are killed and 380 injured every day in traffic crashes. (2)
| Children in U.S. | Traffic Fatalities | Traffic Injuries | Child Fatality Rate |
| 60.3 M in 2020 | 1,093 Children | 139,042 Children | 1.98 per 100k |
The latest available NHTSA data (2020) shows that a total of 1,093 children were killed in fatal traffic crashes and 139,042 children were injured in traffic crashes. (2)
The child fatality rate per 100,000 child population decreased by 6.25% percent from 1.86 in 2011 to 1.98 in 2020.
*The CDC and NHTSA numbers slightly differ because NHTSA uses rounding estimates to the nearest whole number instead of the nearest thousand.
2. Each year, about 5,000 children are involved in car crashes, 18% are unrestrained.
According to NHTSA car seat death statistics (2020), each year, 4,806 children aged 0 to 14 yr. are involved in car crashes in the U.S. (2)
Based on known restraint use, 42% of children killed in vehicle crashes in the U.S. are unrestrained.
| Fatal Crashes | Restrained | Unrestrained | Children | Ages |
| Killed | 58% | 42% | 755 | 0 to 14 yr. |
| Survived | 86% | 14% | 4,051 | 0 to 14 yr. |
| Total Involved | 82% | 18% | 4,806 | 0 to 14 yr. |
The data shows that 23,824 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in traffic crashes (2020), of which 755 were children (0-14 yr.). Of the 755 lives lost, 42% were unrestrained.
Of the 38,419 passenger vehicle occupants who survived fatal crashes, 4,051 were children (0-14 yr.).
In 2020, 86% of children who survived fatal vehicle crashes were restrained in car seats.
According to U.S. car seat accident statistics by state (2020), states with the highest number of child traffic fatalities were Texas (149), California (100), and Florida (87). (2)
| Highest Number | Highest Percentage | Highest Fatality Rate |
| Texas – 149 | Alaska – 6.3% | Mississippi – 4.89 |
| California – 100 | Iowa – 4.5% | Montana – 4.72 |
| Florida – 87 | Kansas – 4.5% | Arkansas – 4.48 |
The states with the highest percentage of child traffic fatalities compared to the U.S. median of 2.8% were Alaska (6.3%), Iowa (4.5%), and Kansas (4.5%).
The states with the highest child fatality rates compared to the U.S. median of 1.98 were Mississippi (4.89), Montana (4.72), and Arkansas (4.48).
3. Child safety seats reduce fatal injury by 71% for infants, 53% for toddlers
According to NHTSA statistics about car seat safety, child safety seats reduce fatal injury by 71% for infants (under 1-year-old) and by 54% for toddlers (1 to 4 years old) in passenger cars. (2)
| Car Type | Reduced Fatal Injury | Reduced Fatal Injury |
| Passenger Cars | 71% for Infants | 53% for Toddlers |
| Light Trucks | 58% for Infants | 59% for Toddlers |
For light trucks, child safety seats reduce fatal injury by 58% for infants and 59% for toddlers.
According to seat belt statistics, lap/shoulder seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat occupants 5 and older of passenger cars by 45% and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50%.
According to NHTSA car seat safety statistics analysis, the odds of experiencing fatalities by 1- to 3-year-old car seat users is 47.3% less than the odds of experiencing fatalities by 1- to 3-year-old booster seat users. (3)
| Restraint System | Reduced Fatality | For Ages | Compared To |
| Car Seat | by 47.3% | 1 to 3 yr. | Booster Seat |
| Car Seat | by 43.1% | 3 to 5 yr. | Booster Seat |
| Booster Seat | by 67.3% | 5 to 8 yr. | Seat Belt |
The odds of experiencing fatalities by 3- to 5-year-old car seat users is 43.1% less than the odds of experiencing fatalities by 3- to 5-year-old booster seat users.
The odds of experiencing serious to critical injuries by 5- to 8-year-old booster seat users is 67.3% less than the odds of experiencing fatalities by 5- to 8-year-old seat belt users.
The data above illustrates how effective safety seats are and how important it is to use the right seat for the right age group.
Here are NHTSA recommended seat restraints from birth to 13-year-olds.
| Ages | Recommended Restraint | NHTSA Guidelines |
| 0 to 12 months | Rear-Facing Car Seat | Infants should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. |
| 1 to 3 years | Rear-Facing Car Seat, Forward-Facing Car Seat | One to 3-year-olds should remain in a rear-facing car seat as long as possible until they reach the maximum height or weight limit allowed by the manufacturer of rear-facing car seats. |
| 4 to 7 years | Forward-Facing Car Seat, Booster Seat | Four to 7-year-olds should remain in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether as long as possible until they reach the maximum height or weight limit allowed by the manufacturer of forward-facing car seats. |
| 8 to 13 years | Booster Seat, Seat Belt | Eight to 13-year-olds should remain in a booster seat as long as possible until the occupants fit in a seat belt properly. |
4. The safest place for a car seat is the rear middle seat.
The car occupant’s seat location is significant and plays a major role in the outcome of an accident.
Safest car seat location statistics study published in pediatrics (2008) found that children (0 to 3 yr.) seated in the middle back seat have a 43% lower risk of injury compared with children in a rear outboard position. (4)
According to NHTSA middle seat statistics data, the safest spot for a car seat is the rear middle seat. (5)
The analysis found that with other variables being held constant, sitting in the center forward-facing car seat reduces the odds of experiencing fatalities for 1- to 3-year-olds by 42.9%, compared to outboard seat users.
| Restraint | Reduced | Ages | Injury |
| Center Forward-Facing | by 42.9% | 1 to 3 yr. | Fatal |
| Center Rear-Facing | by 72.6% | 1 to 3 yr. | Moderate to Critical |
| Center Forward-Facing | by 76.7% | 1 to 3 yr. | Moderate to Critical |
| Center Booster Seat | by 72.2% | 4 to 8 yr. | Moderate to Critical |
With other variables being held constant, sitting in the center rear-facing car seat reduces the odds of moderate to critical injuries for the 1- to 3-year-olds by 72.6%, compared to outboard seat users.
With other variables being held constant, sitting in the center forward-facing car seat reduces the odds of moderate to critical injuries for the 1- to 3-year-olds by 76.7%, compared to outboard seat users.
With other variables being held constant, sitting in the center booster seat reduces the odds of moderate to critical injuries for the 4- to 8-year-olds by 72.2%, compared to outboard seat users.
5. Children up to 12 months have the highest restraint use (91%), ages 13 to 14 the lowest (29%).
According to NHTSA car seat usage statistics (2020), children up to 12 months have the highest restraint use of 91% and ages 13 to 14 have the lowest of 29%. (2)
| Involved in Crashes | Restrained | Unrestrained |
| <12 months old | 91% | 9% |
| 1 to 3 years old | 87% | 13% |
| 4 to 7 years old | 82% | 18% |
| 8 to 12 years old | 82% | 18% |
| 13 to 14 years old | 71% | 29% |
Based on known restraint use, children ages 13 to 14 years old had the highest percentages (29%) of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants for those involved (29%), killed (57%), and survived (23%).
| Fatal Crashes in 2020 | Restrained | Unrestrained |
| Killed | 58% of Children | 42% of Children |
| Survived | 86% of Children | 14% of Children |
| Total Involved | 82% of Children | 18% of Children |
The NHTSA statistics on child car seat safety data also found that 42% of children killed in fatal car crashes were unrestrained. While 86% of children who survived fatal car crashes were restrained.
6. 49% of child safety seats in the U.S. are installed or used improperly.
According to NHTSA car seat misuse statistics, 49% of child safety seats in the U.S. are installed or used improperly. (6)
The NHTSA improper car seat use statistics are consistent with the widely known Greenwell, 2015 study.
| No. | Seats | Common Rear-Facing Infant & Convertible Car Seat Misuses |
| #1 | 42% | An incorrect angle of recline, where a child less than 1 year old rode in a seat at an angle less than or equal to 30 degrees. |
| #2 | 29% | Loose installation, where the seat moved more than 2 inches laterally (side to side). |
| #3 | 15% | Harness slack of more than 2 inches. |
According to rear-facing car seat misuse statistics, the most common misuse of rear-facing infant and convertible car seats is incorrect seat angle (42%) for a child under 1-year-old, less than or equal to 30 degrees, followed by loose installation (29%).
| No. | Seats | Common Forward-Facing Car Seat Misuses |
| #1 | 47% | Loose installation. |
| #2 | 28% | Harness slack of more than 2 inches. |
| #3 | 15% | One or more harness straps behind the child’s back, arm, or leg. |
According to forward-facing car seat misuse statistics, the most common misuse of forward-facing car seats is loose installation (47%), followed by harness slack (28%) of more than 2 inches.
| No. | Seats | Common Child Booster Seat Misuses |
| #1 | 59% | The lap belt is positioned across the child’s abdomen or ribcage. |
| #2 | 24% | The shoulder belt is behind the child’s arm or back. |
| #3 | 15% | Child’s head above vehicle seat back. |
According to booster seat misuse statistics, the most common misuse of booster seats is where the lap belt is positioned across the child’s abdomen or ribcage (59%), followed by the shoulder belt behind the child’s arm or back (15%).
| No. | Common Installation Method Mistakes |
| #1 | Installed with seat belt and ELR mode and latch plate is not switchable—locked or locking. |
| #2 | Installed with lower anchors and multiple car seats or boosters attached to lower anchors used by the inspected car seat. |
| #3 | Installed with seat belt and the seat belt is not buckled. |
According to baby car seat installation mistakes statistics, the most common installation mistake is an installation with a seat belt and ELR mode and latch plate is not switchable—locked or locking.
7. About 7.5% of children 1 to 3 years old are prematurely transitioned to booster seats.
According to NHTSA booster seat statistics, about 7.5% of children 1 to 3 years old are prematurely transitioned to booster seats, 3.1% to seat belts, and 5.7% are unrestrained. (7)
| Prematurely Transitioned | To Fwd.-Facing | To Boosters | To Seat Belts | Unrestrained |
| <12 mo. | 5.7% | – | – | 2.5% |
| 1 to 3 yr. | – | 7.5% | 3.1% | 5.7% |
| 4 to 7 yr. | – | – | 16.6% | 13.8% |
The car seat and booster seat statistics data show that about 8.2% of children under age 1 are not riding in rear-facing car seats and are prematurely transitioned to forward-facing car seats and 2.5% are unrestrained.
The data also shows that about 16.6% of children 4 to 7 years old are prematurely transitioned to seat belts and 13.8% are unrestrained.
8. One in 5 parents says it’s acceptable to leave their child unrestrained for short trips.
According to Safe Kids Worldwide child car seat usage statistics, 21% of parents say it is acceptable to leave their child unrestrained if they are not driving a far distance. (8)
Yet, 60% of crashes involving children occur 10 minutes or less from home.
| Reasons for Being Unrestrained | Acceptable |
| In a taxi cab | 24% |
| Not driving far | 21% |
| Missing booster or car seat | 18% |
| Not enough room | 18% |
| Not enough booster or car seats | 17% |
| Traveling overnight/need to sleep | 16% |
| “Rewarding” the child | 16% |
| Holding the child | 15% |
| Asleep when put in the car | 15% |
| Fussy and complaining | 14% |
| Keeps climbing out | 13% |
| In a rush | 12% |
The child safety seat statistics also found that 16% of parents feel it is acceptable for children not to ride buckled up on overnight trips.
However, this is the time period when children are most likely to be injured if they are in a crash.
Parents with graduate degrees were twice as likely to say that it is acceptable (20%) for a child to ride without a car seat when they are in a rush compared to parents with a high school education (10%).
9. 56% of children are unrestrained when the driver is alcohol-impaired.
According to NHTSA car seat accident statistics, based on known restraint use, over half (56%) of children are unrestrained when the driver is alcohol-impaired. (2)
| Driver’s BAC | Unrestrained Children | Restrained Children |
| .00 g/dL | 38% | 62% |
| .01-.07 g/dL | 44% | 56% |
| .08+ g/dL | 46% | 44% |
The child safety seat fatality statistics found that of the 1,093 children killed in traffic crashes, 229 (21%) were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in 2020.
| Driver Restraint Use | Unrestrained Children | Restrained Children |
| Restrained | 32% | 68% |
| Unrestrained | 65% | 35% |
But even without alcohol, the drivers’ restraint usage affects all the child passengers in the car.
The child car seat safety statistics data shows that when the driver is unrestrained, 65% of children are also unrestrained. And when the driver is restrained, 32% of children are unrestrained.
10. The total cost of car crash occupants’ injuries in the U.S. is $283 billion annually.
According to CDC cost of injury statistics (2020), the total annual cost of motor vehicle occupants’ crash injuries is $282.67 billion, in addition to the immeasurable burden on the victims’ families. (9)
| Injury Outcome | Medical Costs | Work Loss Costs | Quality of Life Costs | Statistical Costs | Combined Costs |
| Nonfatal hospitalization | $17.73 B | $5.69 B | $39.55 B | – | $62.96 B |
| Nonfatal ED treat and release | $7.89 B | $3.97 B | $111.67 B | – | $123.53 B |
| Fatality | $104.44 M | – | – | $96.08 B | $96.18 B |
The statistics show that quality loss of life costs account for more than half of all combined costs.
The highest combined associated cost of $123.53 billion is for vehicle occupants whose injury is nonfatal ED treatment and release.
The second highest associated cost is for fatal accidents, with $96.18 billion of combined costs.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2022. Leading Causes of Death Reports, 1981 – 2020. Link
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2022. Traffic Safety Facts. Link
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2020. Evaluation of Child Restraint System Effectiveness. Link
- Kallan MJ, Durbin DR, Arbogast KB. Seating patterns and corresponding risk of injury among 0- to 3-year-old children in child safety seats. Pediatrics. 2008 May;121(5):e1342-7. doi: 10.1542/peds.2007-1512. PMID: 18450877. Link
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2020. Evaluation of Child Restraint System Effectiveness. Link
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2018. Additional Analysis of National Child Restraint Use Special Study: Child Restraint Misuse. Link
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2021. The 2019 National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats. Link
- Safe Kids Worldwide. 2013. Buckle Up: Every Ride, Every Time. Link
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2022. WISQARS Cost Of Injury, Number of Injuries and Associated Costs. Link
Laurel Davidson
Laurel brings her passion for parenting and years of problem-solving experiences to ParentingMode. She is the editor of ParentingMode, ensuring that the content is relevant and valuable to the readers. Laurel received her master’s degree in public administration with a certificate in economic development. She is a stay-at-home mom, raising two adorable kiddos, Aurora and Thomas. Laurel enjoys sharing her experience as a parent, traveling, and good food.
