Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of injury for children, and many car seats are used incorrectly. The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Traffic Safety Division reports that in 2024, 26 children were killed in Indiana traffic collisions. According to the National Digital Car Seat Check Form (NDCF) database, nearly 23% of children move to booster seats too soon, while more than 89% transition to a seat belt too soon. When transitioning from a booster to a seat belt, caregivers should focus on a child’s height, not age. Depending on their size, some children older than 10 years old may benefit from using a booster seat. Most booster seats accommodate children up to a height of 57 inches.
To help keep children and families safe on the road, car safety experts recommend the following:
- Keep children rear-facing as long as possible until they reach the rear-facing weight or height limitation.
- Keep children in a forward-facing harness seat until they reach the forward-facing weight or height limitation. Check the car seat labels and manual for height and weight limits.
- Use boosters, which are recommended for children up to 4 ft 9 in, the average height of an 11-year-old child. Indiana law requires children to stay in a booster until at least 8 years of age.
- Children should ride in the back seat until age 13.
- Everyone in the vehicle should always BUCKLE UP!
What to expect at this year’s annual clinic:
- Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
- Time: 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Location: Ivy Tech Parking Lot 9, 108 W. 28th St., Indianapolis, IN 46208 (Enter from West 28th Street)
The Annual Car Seat Clinic is organized by the Automotive Safety Program at the Indiana University School of Medicine with support from partners at Dorel, Safe Kids Worldwide and Ivy Tech Community College. This clinic provides parents and caregivers the opportunity to have their child’s car seat checked by certified child passenger safety technicians, who will provide one-on-one education to help ensure children are properly restrained for every ride. The clinic is offered at no cost. Families should bring their child(ren), car seat(s) and vehicle to participate.
Partners will provide no-cost inspections and will replace car seats as needed, while supplies last. To be eligible for a replacement car seat, a child and caregiver must be present. Pregnant people who would like to participate must be in the third trimester and be present. This event is first come, first served, and no appointments are required. Families may begin lining up in their vehicles at 4 p.m. The line will form facing eastbound on West 28th Street. Entry into the clinic will be on West 28th Street.
For those who are not able to attend the clinic, Buckle Up For Life has slide shows and step-by-step videos on how to properly install a car seat.
