Parents and caregivers across New York State are being offered free car seat checks as part of Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs through Saturday. The initiative, announced by Governor Kathy Hochul, is a collaboration between the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) and community groups. The aim is to ensure that children are in the correct car seat and that each seat is safe.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), around 46% of car seats are installed incorrectly, yet most parents and caregivers believe they have been installed properly. Furthermore, vehicle crashes remain one of the leading causes of death among children. In 2022, 756 children under the age of 15 were killed in traffic crashes, and more than 120,000 children were injured.

Governor Hochul said, “Many parents and caregivers think they have properly installed a car seat only to learn through these seat checks that they haven’t. It is very common for seats to be installed incorrectly or to be the wrong fit for the child’s size, so I urge all parents and caregivers to take advantage of this opportunity to ensure their children are properly secured.”

The 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 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.

Parents and caregivers can visit the GTSC website to find free Child Passenger Safety Week car seat check events in their region, or they can make an appointment at a year-round regional car seat fitting site.

Christa Cooper