Nearly 3,000 children were killed in car crashes over the past four years, and just one-third of car seats were installed correctly, according to a new AAA analysis of federal data.

The review of five years of crash statistics shows a slight decline in fatalities, but a troubling trend persists: use of car seats and booster seats drops sharply after children turn three, even though safety experts stress their continued necessity.

The risk remains high. In 2023 alone, nearly 100,000 children were injured in crashes. From 2019 through 2023, more than 3.9 million children aged 11 and under were involved in crashes nationwide, resulting in more than 516,000 injuries and more than 2,800 deaths.

A major factor is improper use of safety restraints. Data from the National Digital Car Seat Check

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