SPRINGFIELD – National Seat Check Saturday is this weekend, with the Illinois Department of Transportation reminding parents and caregivers to take advantage of free car seat checking stations throughout the state. Technicians will be available to determine if your child is in the right car seat, provide instruction on how to install it correctly and explain the importance of registering with manufacturers in case of a recall.
“Whatever kind of seat you use, a certified child passenger safety technician can put your mind at ease by confirming it’s the right one and showing you how to correctly install it,” said Stephane B. Seck-Birhame, IDOT’s bureau chief of Safety Programs and Engineering. “Don’t put children at risk. Take advantage of this opportunity to make sure they’re in the right seat.”
Crashes are a leading cause of death for children, with the latest research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showing that 46% of car seats are misused. Common issues include children being in the wrong type of car seat for their age and size as well as car seats being installed incorrectly. In 2025, 25 children under 14 were killed in traffic crashes in Illinois.
To find a seat check station in your area, download Seat check Saturday LIST.pdf below.
In Illinois, children must remain rear-facing until age 2, however, all caregivers are encouraged to keep their child rear-facing as long as possible. Always follow the car seat and vehicle manufacturer harnessing instructions as well as height and weight limitations for rear-facing installation.
Booster seats are an essential step between car seats and seat belts. The transitional seats position the seat belt so that it fits properly over the stronger parts of your child’s body. The law requires all children to be in a car seat or booster seat until at least age 8. Don’t feel pressured to put your child in a seat belt too soon. If your child is ready to use a seat belt, ensure the seat belt fits correctly.
Tips on child passenger safety:
The national Child Passenger Safety Week campaign is made possible by federal traffic safety funds administered through IDOT. \u200b
For more information, visit Buckle Up Illinois or www.nhtsa.gov/therightseat.
# # #
\n \n \n
", "mainvisual": { "thumbnail": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/208b5efb-ee74-46e0-b292-0e260f67b6b1/-/scale_crop/250x250/center/-/format/auto/", "large": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/208b5efb-ee74-46e0-b292-0e260f67b6b1/-/preview/500x500/-/format/auto/", "original": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/208b5efb-ee74-46e0-b292-0e260f67b6b1/" }, "header": { "large": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/0b118f84-1511-41df-986d-c75f64b9ac57/-/preview/1200x1200/-/format/auto/", "release": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/0b118f84-1511-41df-986d-c75f64b9ac57/-/preview/1200x1200/-/format/auto/" }, "attachments": [ { "description": "Seat check Saturday LIST 2026", "extension": "pdf", "url": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/982fd21f-3c4c-44e9-b0f6-5b4fb970c1e7/-/inline/no/seat-check-saturday-event-list-2026-revise.pdf" } ], "contacts": [ { "name": "Paul Wappel", "company": "IDOT", "description": null, "email": "Paul.wappel@illinois.gov", "website": null, "address": null, "telephone": null, "mobile": "(217) 685-0082", "twitter": null, "facebook": null, "linkedin": null, "instagram": null }, { "name": "Maria Castaneda", "company": "IDOT", "description": null, "email": "maria.c.castaneda@illinois.gov", "website": null, "address": null, "telephone": null, "mobile": "(312) 447-1919", "twitter": null, "facebook": null, "linkedin": null, "instagram": null } ], "author": { "first_name": "IDOT", "last_name": "Communications" }, "format_version": 5 }