Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children, according to the  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The United State Department of Transportation reports every 32 seconds in 2017, one child under the age of 13 in a passenger vehicle was involved in a crash.

The NHSTA reported that from 2013 to 2017, there were 3,313 children under 13 killed while riding in passenger vehicles — 2017 was the first yearly decrease since 2014.

From 2013 to 2017, there were 1,161 “tweens” (8 to 12 years old) killed in passenger vehicles.

In 2017, the <1-to-3 age group had the highest number of fatalities (247, or 37 percent) among children in passenger vehicles, which is a 2-percent increase from 2016. Of those aged 3 and under who were killed, approximately 22 percent were unbuckled.

In 2017, more than a third (35 percent) of children under 13 killed in passenger vehicles were not restrained in car seats, booster seats or seat belts.

Car seats and boosters are one of the easiest ways to protect children riding in cars, but did you know nearly half of all car seats are installed incorrectly?

It is important that all parents, guardians and caregivers are correctly using car seats and seat belts for child’s ages and sizes.

In 2017, among children under 5, car seats saved an estimated 312 lives. A total of 371 children could have survived if they had been buckled up 100-percent of the time.

In passenger cars, car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers. For infants and toddlers in light trucks, the corresponding reductions were 58 percent and 59 percent, respectively.

Most parents are confident that they have correctly installed their child’s car seat, but in most cases (59 percent) the seat has not been installed correctly.

Sept. 15-21 is National Child Passenger Safety Week, which is all about advocating for the importance of proper seating for children riding in cars, which means your child is in the right seat for their age and size, that it’s properly installed and used and that it’s registered with the manufacturer to make sure you get important safety updates.

Here are some tips from NHTSA to ensure your child’s safety while riding in vehicles:

—  Remember to read and carefully follow the installation instructions included with a car seat as well as the vehicle owner’s manual. Failure to do this can lead to incorrect installation, exposing a child passenger to the risk of injury or death in a crash.

—  All children under 13 should always ride in the back seat.

— Get help checking your car seat. If you have a car seat in your vehicle, visit a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician in your community to double-check that it’s correctly installed and that you’re using it correctly. Visit nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats#installation-help-inspection to find installation sites in the area.

— Register your car seat. It’s also critical that all car seats are registered with their manufacturers in case of a safety recall. Every seat purchased comes with a postage-paid registration card that you can drop in the mail. You can also register your seat online. This simple, but critical, step will help ensure that you will be notified if a defect is discovered with your car seat so it can be repaired or the seat can be replaced to keep your child safe.

— Pick the right seat. As children grow and transition from one type of car seat to another, parents sometimes become less vigilant about ensuring their children are properly buckled in the right seats. NHTSA recommends keeping children rear-facing as long as possible, up to the top height or weight limit allowed by the particular seat. It’s the best way to keep them safe. Once a child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, he or she is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and a tether.

When your child exceeds the weight or height limits for their forward-facing car seat, it may be time for a booster seat. This should be the next step before a child is ready to wear an adult seat belt alone. Check to make sure you’re using the right car seat, booster seat, or seat belt for your growing child.

Every time your family gets on the road, make sure everyone in the car is properly buckled, including the tiniest passengers.

All 50 states, the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories have laws requiring children to be secured in the appropriates car seats or booster seats for their age and size.

So not only is ensuring proper use of car seats safe, but it is the law.

If you need help with your car seat, seek help from a professional. Even your pediatrician can offer guidance on proper vehicle restraints.

Do your research and read the instructions on your car seat.

Know the laws and guidelines for your state.

It can save lives.

Editorials represent the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. The board is comprised of publisher Michael Caldwell and Bluegrass Newsmedia editors Whitney Leggett and Ben Kleppinger. To inquire about a meeting with the board, contact Caldwell at 759-0095.