Child Passenger Safety Week runs through September 26, and AAA is reminding motorists to stay safe. In fact, Saturday is National Seat Check Saturday, where parents can make sure car seats are properly installed to protect young children.

Consider this - every 32 seconds in 2018, one child under the age of 13 in a passenger vehicle was involved in a crash. Many times, injuries and deaths can be prevented by proper use of car seats, boosters, and seat belts.

In late 2019, a new law went into effect in New York requiring parents to keep infants and young toddlers in rear-facing child safety seats until they are at least two years old or until they reach the maximum height and weight for the seat being used. The law falls in line with updated recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. “A rear-facing seat provides increased support for the very vulnerable and still-developing head, neck and back of young children,” said Elizabeth Carey, Director of Public Relations at AAA Western and Central New York. 

In 2020, Governor Cuomo signed a new law, which goes into effect Nov. 1, requiring all passengers to wear a seat belt in the back seat of a motor vehicle, including passengers of ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft. Until now, passengers over age 16 were not required to wear seat belts in the rear seat in New York. The new law, championed by AAA New York State, will save lives and prevent injuries across state roadways by requiring all occupants in a motor vehicle to buckle up. Over the last decade, nearly 300 people were killed and over 25,000 were injured unrestrained in the back seat of a motor vehicle. This accounts for eight injuries per day across New York State.

Car seats are particularly important. From 2011 to 2015, 1,896 one-year-olds were seriously injured in car crashes. Here is information on car seat checks this weekend:

Central New York:
September 26, 2020 – 8:00 AM thru 6:00 PM, Walmart Supercenter, 8770 Dell Center Dr, Clay NY (Onondaga County) 
By appointment: 315-455-2887 (Zone 2 office)

September 26, 2020 – 10:00 AM thru 4:00 PM, Menter Ambulance - Fulton, 404 Ontario St, Fulton NY (Oswego County)
By appointment: (Oswego County Traffic Safety Board) 315-343-2344 x22

Rochester:
September 26, 2020 – 10:00 AM thru 2:00 PM, Troop E Headquarters, 1569 Rochester Road, Farmington, NY, (585) 398-4153

Batavia:
September 26, 2020 - 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, By appointment: Troop A, SP Batavia, 4525 West Saile Drive, Batavia, NY 14020, Appointment necessary – 585-344-6228.

Buffalo:
September 26, 2020 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Orchard Park Police Department, Windom Fire Hall