Columbus County, NC — Child Passenger Safety Week continues through September 27, and state safety officials are urging North Carolina families – including those here in Columbus County – to double check their car seats, booster seats, and seat‑belt setups as part of a nationwide push to reduce preventable injuries among young passengers.
According to the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program, nearly 1/2 of all car seats are installed incorrectly, and misuse remains one of the leading factors in child‑injury crashes statewide. Safety technicians say the most common issues include loose harness straps, seats not anchored tightly enough, and children transitioning out of booster seats too early.
Parents are encouraged to check that their child’s seat does not move more than an inch when pulled at the base, that harness straps are snug with no slack, and that children remain in booster seats until they reach both 8 years old and 80 pounds under North Carolina law. Rear‑facing seats should remain rear‑facing until children reach the maximum height or weight listed by the manufacturer.
Columbus County continues to see a steady number of crashes involving young passengers each year, according to statewide crash‑reporting data. While most do not result in severe injury, safety officials say proper restraints dramatically reduce the risk of serious harm.
Families in Columbus County can access free, certified car-seat inspections year-round through Safe Kids Cape Fear, serving the region out of Wilmington. Parents and caregivers can schedule an appointment to have trained technicians verify proper installation, harness fit, and check for any manufacturer recall status.
To find additional permanent checking stations or connect with local certified child passenger safety technicians across North Carolina, you can also use the statewide local program lookup at buckleupnc.org/locations
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