Hawaii has one of the strictest car seat laws in the country, and a statewide safety push this week offers free help for parents who are getting it wrong.

• Kids under two must ride rear-facing; car seats or boosters are required up to age 10 unless the child is taller than 4'9".
• The three most common mistakes are a loose seat, a loose harness, and moving a child to the next stage too early.
• Reading both the car seat and the vehicle manual is the single biggest fix — people who do get it right nine times out of ten.
• Free car seat checks are available statewide, with the Oahu event at Waipio Shopping Center.
• Nine car seat recalls have been issued this year, so registering a seat matters.

Outlook: Child Passenger Safety Week runs through September 26, with free inspection events in every county that day.