Certified technicians will inspect child car seats for free at the Walmart Supercenter in Tega Cay on Oct. 23, giving local parents a chance to find out whether their seats are properly installed.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1151 Stonecrest Blvd. Car seat maker Britax is organizing the check, but seats of any brand are welcome, according to the company's events page. Britax recommends allowing about 30 minutes per seat.

More than 60% of car seats inspected by Child Passenger Safety technicians in South Carolina were improperly installed or used, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS), citing 2025 data from the National Digital Car Seat Check Form database. Nationally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates about 46% of car seats are installed incorrectly.

SCDPS Director Robert G. Woods IV said in a Sept. 18 press release that parents should take advantage of free resources. "Choosing the right car seat for a child's age, height, and weight is the first step," Woods said. "Equally important is installing it properly and using it correctly on every trip."

The SCDPS, the South Carolina Department of Public Health and Safe Kids South Carolina are partnering to offer free car seat checks during Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs Sept. 20–26. The Tega Cay event on Oct. 23 falls after the designated week ends.

Attendees should bring their child, their vehicle and its owner's manual, and the car seat with all parts and instructions. Britax suggests bringing a second adult to watch the child during the inspection.

Under South Carolina law, children under two must ride in a rear-facing seat until they exceed the manufacturer's height or weight limit, according to the SCDPS. Children who outgrow a rear-facing seat move to a forward-facing seat, then a booster. Children may use an adult seat belt at age eight or 57 inches tall.

WCCB Charlotte reported that NHTSA data shows an average of three children are killed and 439 are injured in traffic crashes every day. Car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers, according to NHTSA data cited by the Statesville Police Department.

Parents who miss the Oct. 23 event can find year-round free inspection stations through the South Carolina Department of Public Health at dph.sc.gov.