Most car seats are installed incorrectly nationwide. How to ensure that your child's seat is safe.

The Tennessee Highway Safety Office is encouraging people to participate in National Seat Check Saturday on Saturday, Sept. 23 in honor of National Child Passenger Safety Week.

Celebrated during the third week in September, the week is dedicated educating others about the importance of child safety during every stage of life - from car seats to booster seats and seat belt use.

According to THSO Director Buddy Lewis, car crashes are the leading cause of death for children in America.

“Anyone traveling with a child in the vehicle should feel confident that child is properly restrained," he said. "If you are in doubt, please visit a local fitting station to learn safety tips and access certified child passenger safety technicians.”

According to the National Safety Council and AAA Mountain West Group, 58% of rear-facing car seats and 78% of forward-facing car seats are installed incorrectly.

Additionally, 90% of children using lap-and-shoulder belts should still be in a forward-facing car seat or booster seat. They also reported that the three most common car seat mistakes are loose installation, loose harness straps or not using the tether.

Car seats typically expire after 6 years from the manufacture date said the THSO. Wear and tear, changes in regulations and standards and recalls can all affect the longevity and overall effectiveness of the car seat. It is recommended to locate the expiration date, serial number and manufacturer on a sticker attached to the car seat.

Take advantage of National Seat Check Saturday to ensure your child rides safe

For anyone wishing to participate in National Seat Check Saturday, there will be multiple car seat fitting stations across the state. In Nashville, people may visit the Belle Meade Police Department at 4705 Harding Pike.

At the fitting stations, professionals will demonstrate how to accurately buckle children into the car seats plus provide their knowledge and expertise all free of charge.

To view the additional fitting station locations across Tennessee, visit tntrafficsafety.org.

Child passenger safety tips

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, every 34 seconds, one child under the age of 13 is involved in a car crash. It is recommended to keep a child in the backseat at least until the age of 12.

• Children under one should always ride in a rear facing car seat.

• Convertible and all-in-one car seats normally have higher height and weight limits thus allowing children to remain rear-facing for longer periods of time.

• One a child outgrows a rear-facing car seat, they are ready to ride in a forward facing car seat with a harness and tether.

• A child should remain in a car seat until they are big enough to use a seat belt properly, typically this is around the time they are eight to 12 years old.

• Seatbelts should lie snuggly across their upper thighs, shoulder and chest, not the stomach, neck or face.

To learn more about finding the right car seat and car seat safety, visit tntrafficsafety.org.

When should a child be moved to a booster seat?

Tennessee law states that children should be restrained in a forward-facing, harnessed car seat until their 4th birthday and weigh over 20 pounds.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that any child who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limits, should use a forward-facing car seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height limits allowed by the seat’s manufacturer.

National Child Passenger Safety Week events in Tennessee

• 09/22 (Knoxville) Knoxville Baby Celebration at Victor Ashe Park, 4901 Bradshaw Rd, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• 09/23 (McMinnville) St. Catherine's Car Seat Check event at St. Catherines Catholic Church, 1024 Faulkner Springs Road, 4 pm. - 8 p.m.

• 09/23 (Dayton) Safe Journey Family Safety Fair at Cedar Point Park, Chickamauga Dr, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• 09/23 (Collierville) Car Seat Check at Bailey Station Elementary School, 3435 Bailey Station Rd, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• 09/30 (Cleveland) Car Seat Safety Day at Westwood Baptist Church, 4001 Georgetown Rd., 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• 09/30 (Seymour) Seymour Fire Department Car Seat Check at Home Federal Bank, 11320 Chapman Hwy

Diana Leyva covers trending news for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What's proper car seat safety? How to check child seat in Tennessee