Every year, the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety partners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to celebrate Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs this year from September 20-26, 2026. The annual safety week culminates with National Seat Check Saturday on September 26, providing a day for parents and caregivers to receive free instruction on how to correctly install and use the right car seats for their children.

Many free car seat safety checks will occur during this week and on Seat Check Saturday, according to MBHS, in a news release. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) will be available to help parents and caregivers determine the proper seats for their children and to demonstrate how to correctly install and use those seats. 

Below you can find information for some free check events happening across Maine:

- Free Car Seat Check Event on September 19, 2026, from 10:00AM to 1:00PM at the 2nd Annual Lincoln and Knox County Baby Shower located at Thomaston Academy Building, 60 Main St., Thomaston, ME 04861.

- Free Car Seat Check Event on September 20, 2026, from 9:00AM to 12:00PM at Saco Fire Dept, 271 North Street, Saco, ME.

- Free Car Seat Check Event on September 24, 2026, from 11:00AM to 2:00PM at Norway Fire Department, 19 Danforth Street, Norway, ME.

- Free Car Seat Check Event on September 26, 2026, from 10:00AM to 2:00PM at the 1st Annual Acorn to Oak Family Fair located at UMaine at Machias (Reynold's Center/Gym Building), 116 Obrien Ave, Machias, ME 04654.

- Free Car Seat Check Event on September 26, 2026, from 9:00AM to 11:00AM at Brunswick Fire Department - Emerson Station, 284 Bath Rd, Brunswick ME 04011.

All parents and caregivers are invited to attend these free events. You’ll spend about 30 minutes with a certified expert and leave knowing your kids are as safe as possible on the road.

If the above dates don’t work for your schedule, but you’d still like to have your car seats checked, schedule an appointment with a technician in your community by visiting https://www.maine.gov/dps/bhs/safety-programs/child-passenger-safety/car-seat-inspection-locations

“The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety urges parents and caregivers to double-check and make sure their children are in the right seats (rear-facing car seats, forward-facing car seats, or booster seats) and that the seats are installed correctly,” said Erica Davis, Highway Safety Coordinator. “Good enough” may not be good enough in a crash.”

According to NHTSA, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children. Every day in 2024, an average of two children 14 years old and younger were killed in crashes, and another 349 were injured in traffic crashes while riding in passenger vehicles. According to the National Digital Check Form, from the 1,533 car seat checks from July 2018 to June 2026, there was a 76% misuse rate.

“Moving children to the next type of car seat before they’re ready leaves them vulnerable in a crash. Keep your kids in the right seat as long as possible for their age and size,” added Erica Davis, Highway Safety Coordinator. “To get expert help installing your car seat, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can help you for free.”

When it comes to child passengers, there is a right seat for every size and developmental stage — from infants to teens. Whether it’s a rear-facing or forward-facing car seat, a booster seat, or a seat belt, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can put parents’ minds at ease by confirming which seat is correct for their children and showing them how to correctly install that seat in their vehicle. Children should stay in each seat and position until they outgrow the height or weight limits for the car seat, and it’s important for all children under 13 to ride buckled up in the back seat.

NHTSA.gov also has free resources available: Learn about the different car seat types, read NHTSA’s research-based recommendations, and find and compare car seats.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to register their car seats with the manufacturer so they can be notified in the event of a recall. They can also download NHTSA’s SaferCar app, which allows users to save their vehicle, car seat, and tire information in a virtual garage. If any of the saved equipment is included in a safety recall, the app will send a notification.

For more information on child passenger safety, go to NHTSA.gov/TheRightSeat.