During the month of September, car dealerships across the United States will offer free inspections of child safety seats as part of Child Passenger Safety Month.

The National Automobile Dealers Association developed the program in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Statistics indicated that annually more than 40,000 children aged four or under are killed or injured in automobile accidents.

In the four to eight age bracket the number jumps to 50,000. Of all children age eight or younger who suffer injury or death, approximately 40 percent are not belted or secured in any way.

Experts recommend that children who weigh at least 20 pounds (usually newborn to age one) be secured in an infant seat facing to the rear in the backseat.

Children who weigh between 20 and 40 pounds (approximately one to four-year-olds) should also be placed in the backseat, but in a forward facing seat designated for toddlers.

When children reach the four to eight-year-old range (unless they have exceeded 4' 9" in height) they can sit in the back in belted booster seats.

Booster seats are offered in both high and low-back versions. The high-back makes use of the car's included lap and shoulder belt and provides support to the head and neck.

Low-back boosters are meant to be used in automobiles that do not have a head restraint built in to the backseat.