Safe Kids Buckle Up

The Safety Kids Buckle Up program is the largest child passenger safety program in the US. Over 600 Safe Kids coalitions across the U.S. participate in this program.

At Safe Kids Buckle Up Car Seat Checkup events, child passenger safety technicians spend approximately 30 minutes to teach families how to correctly transport their children. In addition, children ages 14 and under participate in interactive educational programs. The progam utilizes Mobile Car Seat Checkup Vans - specially designed, self-contained vehicles that allow any parking lot to be utilized as a full-service car seat safety event site.

In addition to these events, approximately 450 permanent child passenger safety inspection stations with regular service hours are located at central locations across the U.S. such as General Motors dealerships, hospitals, fire stations, and insurance companies.

The goal of the program is to promote child passenger safety by teaching parents and caregivers how to correctly use car seats, booster seats and seat belts.

A 2007 study found that the average car seat misuse rate by parents dropped 14 percent during the six week period after participating in the program.
Post-intervention data showed that 45 percent more seats were correctly installed by parents than before the training. No children arrived at the second training unrestrained. To date, more than 44,000 Buckle Up Car Seat Checkup events have taken place and 137 Mobile Car Seat Checkup Vans are in operation. Every state has at least one van.