In recognition of National Child Passenger Safety Week—running from September 21 to 26, 2026—the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are calling on parents and caregivers to ensure that all child passengers are safely and properly restrained during every trip.

Highlighting the urgency of the campaign, state data from TITAN reveals that nearly 9,000 traffic crashes (8,959) involving unrestrained child occupants aged 18 or younger occurred across Tennessee between 2021 and August 25, 2026. Shelby, Rutherford, and Davidson counties recorded the highest numbers of these incidents statewide.

Experts emphasize that motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death for children. According to Julie Brewer, Director of the Tennessee Occupant Protection Center, the state faces a staggering 78 percent misuse rate for child safety seats, often due to children being placed in improper seats for their size or incorrect installation methods.

To help families navigate proper car seat and booster seat guidelines, the THSO has provided an instructional video narrated by Director Julie Brewer: https://youtu.be/07ht7xFvd9c

As the week leads up to National Seat Check Saturday on September 26, the Tennessee Occupant Protection Center will host child seat safety checks statewide. Parents and caregivers looking to find a local fitting station or certified technician can visit www.tntrafficsafety.org/cps.