Governor Hochul Urges Parents to Make Sure Child Seats are Secured During Passenger Safety Week

Governor Kathy Hochul and the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee today announced that free child car seat checks by certified child passenger safety technicians will be available across the state during Child Passenger Safety Week, which starts today and concludes with National Seat Check Saturday on September 25, 2021. The events are part of a yearlong safety initiative in which state and local law enforcement agencies, together with various community safety partners, offer free fittings.

"Parents and caregivers have enough to worry about, so I hope they will take advantage of this opportunity to ensure their children are properly secured in the appropriate booster seat or car seat for their age and size," Governor Hochul said. "Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children, but correctly using a car seat, booster seat or seat belt is the most effective way to keep them safe while on the road."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), from 2015 to 2019, 3,321 children under 13 were killed while riding in passenger vehicles. In 2019, an average of two children under 13 were killed, and an estimated 374 were injured every day while riding in cars, SUVs, pickups, and vans, and more than one-third (38 percent) were not restrained in car seats, booster seats, or seat belts.

NYS Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and GTSC Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder said, "Providing parents and caregivers with safety information and training on how to properly install and use a child safety seat is crucial to protecting young lives on our roadways. Children are safest when correctly secured in the right car seat or booster seat for their age and size, regardless of the type of vehicle."

According to NHTSA, when used correctly, car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger vehicles. For infants and toddlers in light trucks, the corresponding reductions were 58 percent and 59 percent, respectively. While most parents believe they have properly installed their child's car seat, the seats were installed incorrectly in 46 percent of cases.

The following car seat check events aim to ensure all parents and caregivers understand how to choose an appropriate seat for the child's age and size and how to install the seat correctly. Trained technicians will use the model of "Learn, Practice, and Explain" to educate caregivers on how to select a child restraint that will fit their child, fit their vehicle and be used correctly every time.

CAPITAL REGION

When: Saturday, September 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Walmart parking lot, 460 Fairview Avenue, Hudson
For more information, contact Joseph Kilmerat (518) 828-3344 or [email protected].

When: Saturday, September 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Center Brunswick Fire Station, 1045 Hoosick Road, Troy
For more information, contact Technical Sergeant Donald Fougere at (518) 783-3258 or [email protected].

When: Saturday, September 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Crossgates Mall outer lot Western Avenue side, 1 Crossgates Mall Road, Guilderland
For more information, contact William Van Alstyne at (518) 765-2565 or [email protected].

CENTRAL NEW YORK

When: Wednesday, September 22, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Minoa Fire Department, 240 North Main Street, Minoa
For more information, contact Captain Slater at (315) 682-2212 or [email protected]. Event will be limited to eight available half-hour time slots to maintain social distance. Walk-ins are still welcome but may be asked to wait. To schedule an appointment, call Manlius Police at the number above, weekdays 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., email the address above, or send a message through Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Town-of-Manlius-Police-Department-179212188794353/.

When: Saturday, September 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Walmart Supercenter, 5399 West Genesee Street, Camillus
For more information, contact New York State Police at (315) 455-2887 or [email protected].

When: Saturday, September 25, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: SUNY Oswego Parking Lot 7 Romney Field House, 3 Barnes Drive (Sheldon Avenue), Oswego
For more information, contact Kyle Boeckmann at (315) 343-2344 or [email protected]. Masks required regardless of Vaccination status. Appointment preferred.

FINGER LAKES

When: Sunday, September 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Canandaigua Fire Department Station #2, 5298 Parkside Drive, Canandaigua
For more information, contact Sergeant Kelly Fogarty at (585) 394-4560 or [email protected].

When: Thursday, September 23, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Attica Police Department, 43 Exchange Street, Attica
For more information, contact Officer Stephanie Ingles at (585) 591-0881 or [email protected].

When: Saturday, September 25, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Noyes Hospital, 111 Clara Barton Avenue, Dansville
For more information, contact Barbara Sturm at (585) 991-5432 or [email protected]. Appointments are recommended.

When: Saturday, September 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Attica Park, Exchange Street, Attica
For more information, contact Jillian Calmes at (585) 786-8890 or [email protected].

When: Saturday, September 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Save-A-Lot parking lot, 320 West Avenue, Albion
For more information, contact Officer Daniel Baase at (585) 589-5627 or [email protected].

When: Saturday, September 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Gates Volunteer Ambulance Service, 1600 Buffalo Road, Rochester
For more information, contact Laurie Schwenzer at (585) 247-5519.

When: Saturday, September 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Delta Sonic, 1841 Empire Boulevard, Webster
For more information, contact Jean Triest at (585) 753-3018 or [email protected].

HUDSON VALLEY

When: Friday, September 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Loch Sheldrake Fire House, 1280 Route 52, Loch Sheldrake
For more information, contact Wendy Salonich at (845) 292-5910 ext. 2220 or [email protected]. Appointments are required. Everyone over age 2 must wear a mask and maintain social distance protocols.

When: Saturday, September 25, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Where: Mid Hudson Plaza (Poughkeepsie Home Depot), 3470 North Road (Route 9), Poughkeepsie
For more information, contact William Johnson at (845) 486-3602 or [email protected].

When: Saturday, September 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Orangeburg Fire Department, 61 Dutch Hill Road, Orangeburg
For more information, contact Technical Sergeant Michael Belgiovene at (845) 346-3566 or [email protected].

When: Saturday, September 25, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Croton Harmon Train Station, 1 Veterans Plaza, Croton
For more information, contact Mark Fielding at (914) 271-5177 or [email protected].

LONG ISLAND

When: September 19 and 25, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: New York State Police Troop L Headquarters, 7140 Republic Airport, East Farmingdale
For more information, contact Sergeant Jim Walters at (631) 756-3389 or [email protected]. Appointments and personal protective equipment are required.

When: Saturday, September 25, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Brookhaven Safety Town, 249 Buckley Road, Holtsville
For more information, contact Karen Harper at (631) 363-3770.

MOHAWK VALLEY

When: Thursday, September 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Riverside Center Shopping Plaza, 710 Horatio Street, Utica
For more information, contact New York State Police at (315) 455-2887 or [email protected].

When: Saturday, September 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Utica Police Department, 413 Oriskany Street West, Utica
For more information, contact Sergeant Ed Hagen at (315) 520-6366 or [email protected].

When: Saturday, September 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Village of Ilion Municipal Building and rear parking lot, 49 Morgan Street (corner of Morgan Street and First Street), Ilion
For more information, contact Captain Laurie Ann DeVaul at (315) 894-9911.

NORTH COUNTRY

When: Thursday, September 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Target, 21800 Towne Center Drive, Watertown
For more information, contact New York State Police at (315) 782-3849 or [email protected].

When: Saturday, September 25, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Morrisonville EMS, 21 Banker Road, Morrisonville
For more information, contact Anika Craig at (518) 565-4397 or [email protected]. Face covering/mask are required for everyone over age two.

SOUTHERN TIER

When: Tuesday, September 21, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Where: Bath Police Department, 110 Liberty Street, Bath
For more information, contact Sergeant John Hawley at (607) 776-2175 or [email protected]. All participants must follow Covid guidelines.

When: Saturday, September 25, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Visions Federal Credit Union, 5411 State Highway 12, Norwich
For more information, contact Deputy Kelly Hayner at (607) 337-1874 or [email protected].

When: Saturday, September 25, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Endicott Fire Department, 224 Madison Avenue, Endicott
For more information, contact Christine Muss at (607) 778-2807 or [email protected]. By appointment only. For the health and safety of technicians and families, appropriate CDC guidelines will be followed. Call for details.

When: Saturday, September 25, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Cornell University Grounds Department, 307 Palm Road, Ithaca
For more information, contact Officer Beverly Van Cleef at (607) 255-7305 or [email protected].

When: Saturday, September 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Southern Tier Medical Care, 125 Victory Highway, Painted Post
For more information, contact Sergeant Matt Sorge at (607) 622-3911 or [email protected]. Please follow current CDC guidelines.

WESTERN NEW YORK

When: Wednesday, September 22, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Orchard Park Central Fire Hall, 30 School Street, Orchard Park
For more information, contact Officer Kristen Mazur at (716) 662-6444 or [email protected].

When: Saturday, September 25, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Chautauqua Safety Village, 2695 Route 394, Ashville
For more information, contact Jessica Dayton at (716) 338-0170 or [email protected].

When: Saturday, September 25, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Trinity Medical OB/GYN, 550 Orchard Park Road, West Seneca
For more information, contact Christina Lewis at (716) 344-7357 or [email protected]. Please wear a mask and reschedule if you feel sick.

If you cannot attend one of these free car seat check events, you can make an appointment with a car seat fitting station near you. Find more information on upcoming car seat check events near you. See ratings on all car seats.

In addition to car seat fittings, parents and caregivers can view a series of videos produced by NHSTA on proper installation of rear-facing and forward-facing car seats and booster seats. NHTSA also offers information on registering a car seat and finding the right car seat based on a child's age and size.

Two years ago, a new law took effect requiring any child under the age of two to be in a rear-facing car seat. If a child outgrows an infant-only seat before reaching their second birthday, it is recommended that a convertible or all-in-one car seat with higher rear-facing height and weight limits be used. These seats should be installed in the rear-facing position until the child reaches the rear-facing weight or height limit set by the car seat manufacturer. NHTSA reports that rear-facing seats are the best option for a young child because they are equipped with a harness and, in a crash, cradle and move with the child to reduce the stress to the child's neck and spine.

For more information about child passenger safety, visit the GTSC website.