Car and booster seats are the best way to protect children during a crash, which is the leading cause of death for kids under the age of 13.

But according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, almost half of all car seats are not being used properly during Child Passenger Safety Week.

Kentucky State Police is holding free events around the state to help caregivers make sure children are safe in their seats during vehicle collisions.

Are children are the most susceptible to being injured?

So it's our job here today to make sure that our kids are as safe as possible in their car seats at all times inside of the vehicle.

So this week, being national Child Passenger Safety Week, you know, we're wanting to make sure that these kids are properly restrained, in the vehicle because a lot of times that is the difference between life and death in the event of a car crash.

So, you know, it's very important to make sure that these kids are installed correctly, that their seats are installed correctly, that the child is in the right booster seat or in a car seat.

So the Kentucky state law is all kids, once they, come out of like, a, child restraint, they have to remain in a booster seat up to eight years of age, or 57in tall, to come out of that booster seat.

Now, just because they hit the age of eight doesn't necessarily mean they have to come out of a booster seat.

A lot of booster seats, you know, go up to 100 to 110 pounds.

But we want to make sure that the seat belt is fitting these kids properly.

And that's what a booster seat does.

It boosters em up so that that seat belt fits in the way that it's supposed to.

A lot of times we see that some children are in the car seats.

However, they're not installed properly.

Everybody thinks that if a car seat is just put in the vehicle, that it's safe.

But there are certain steps that technicians take to make sure that it is following manufacturer guidelines and that it's not expired.

These car seats have expiration dates on them.

Just make sure that your children are always in some type of a child restraint seat.

I know sometimes it's hard that we're just going around to the store and it's easy to just put them in the vehicle.

But that small second could be, life or death for them.

So please, just make sure that we use the right measures to make sure that our kids are safe at all times within our vehicles.

The biggest thing is you know, just if you're unsure that you're that, you know, maybe your car seat is not installed correctly.

Make sure you find a location in your area.

You know, Kentucky State Police, they have someone at all of their posts that certified.

A lot of your health departments in the state is certified.

So if you're just unsure, stop by a location and make sure that you, are reaching out to someone that is certified as a car seat technician and have them to check your seat.

If you're unable to make it to one of the check up events, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has some information on its website to help you find a technician in your area.

Go online to nhtsa.gov.

The website has other information and resources for anyone who drives child passengers.