Williamson County parents can get free car seat inspections at their children's schools after AAA research found the vast majority of Tennessee kids are riding in restraints that don't fit.

More than 90% of Tennessee children checked during 2025 child passenger safety inspections had moved to adult seat belts before the belts fit properly, according to research released by AAA. The findings also showed that 20.1% of children had transitioned to booster seats too early, while 76.4% of child restraints inspected statewide were being used incorrectly.

"Parents would never knowingly put their child at risk, but many don't realize a seat belt that looks like it fits may not actually provide the protection their child needs," said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group.

Local checks available through school SROs

Twenty-three School Resource Officers in Williamson County Schools are certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians, according to Williamson County Schools. Those deputies, assigned through the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, provide free car seat checks at their schools during the school year. Parents can contact their child's SRO to schedule an inspection.

WCSO Deputies Christie Lewandowski and Philip Oden joined the Franklin Police Department on Wednesday, Sept. 23, for a child passenger safety event at The Academy at Forrest Crossing on South Royal Oaks Boulevard. Julie Brewer, director of the Tennessee Occupant Protection Center, attended the event and said many of the seats certified technicians inspect are not installed or used correctly.

Why it matters

Car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers in passenger cars, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. National crash data from 2020 through 2024 showed that 78% of injured 3-year-olds involved in crashes were riding in car seats or boosters. By age 6, that figure dropped to 45%.

The AAA data was released ahead of Child Passenger Safety Week. AAA is also donating to the Tennessee Road Builder Association's Ollie Otter Child Safety Foundation to help purchase car seats and boosters for community events where families can meet certified technicians.

Tennessee's 5-step booster seat test

The Tennessee Highway Safety Office recommends a five-step test to determine whether a child still needs a booster. The child must sit all the way back against the vehicle seat. Knees must bend comfortably at the seat's edge. The shoulder belt must cross between the neck and arm. The lap belt must sit as low as possible, touching the thighs. The child must be able to stay seated that way for the entire trip.

Under Tennessee law, children ages 4 through 8 who are shorter than 4 feet 9 inches must ride in a belt-positioning booster seat. Children ages 9 through 12, or any child through age 12 who is 4 feet 9 inches or taller, must be secured in a seat belt. AAA recommends all children younger than 13 ride in the back seat.

Families can find local car seat fitting stations and upcoming inspection events through the Tennessee Traffic Safety Resource Service.