Saturday kicked off national Child Passenger Safety week, and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety is reminding parents to make sure their children are in proper car seats.

Preliminary DPS data from 2009 shows four children under age 7 died in crashes this year — and none of them were properly restrained. Seven of the 10 children seriously injured were also not in safety restraints.

DPS reported that in Minnesota, 83 percent of child restraints are used incorrectly.

Also, the state’s new booster law states a child cannot ride in a seat belt alone until he or she is 8 years old or 4 feet 9 inches.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to visit www.buckleupkids.state.mn.us for details on how to properly secure a child in a vehicle.

One common error is the restraint is not secured tight enough. It should not shift more than 1 inches side-to-side or out from the seat.