Press Release - 03-29-2019

DMV News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 29, 2019

Contacts:
Tim O’Brien
[email protected]

 

NEW YORK STATE DMV AND THE GOVERNOR’S TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE ANNOUNCE FREE CHILD SEAT INSPECTIONS AND ASSISTANCE DURING APRIL

Free Inspections Offered in Erie, Madison, Niagara, Oswego, Rensselaer, Steuben, Tompkins and Wayne Counties

Free Inspections by Appointment Offered Year-Round

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) today announced that free child seat inspections are available to parents and caregivers during the month of April in Erie, Madison, Niagara, Oswego, Rensselaer, Steuben, Tompkins and Wayne counties. As part of a year-long safety initiative, state and local law enforcement agencies, together with various community safety partners, are offering free inspections by certified child passenger safety technicians.

Acting DMV Commissioner and Acting GTSC Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder said, “Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children from birth to age 13. While child safety seats and booster seats can significantly lower their risk of death or injury, they must be properly installed and used to be effective. These free inspections are an invaluable resource to help parents and caregivers keep their children as safe as possible while traveling in a motor vehicle.”

These events aim to ensure all parents and caregivers are properly trained to choose an appropriate seat for the child’s age and size and to properly install the seat in the safest manner. Trained technicians will use the model of “Learn, Practice, and Explain” to educate each caregiver on how to select a child restraint that will fit their child, fit their vehicle and be used correctly every time.

Getting safety information and car seat instructions to parents and caregivers is crucial to saving young lives. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger vehicles. 

The following child safety seat checks are scheduled across the state in April:

CAPITAL REGION

April 27                     Child Safety Seat Check - Rensselaer County
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
West Sand Lake Fire Station, 3697 NY 43, West Sand Lake, NY 12196
Agency: New York State Police / Rensselaer County Law Enforcement Association
Contact: Trooper Donald Fougere at (518) 783-3258 or Eric Dahl at (518) 266-1970

CENTRAL NEW YORK

April 6                        Child Safety Seat Check - Madison County
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Tops Markets Plaza, 3400 Seneca Turnpike (State Route 5), Canastota, NY 13032
Agency: New York State Police
Contact: Trooper Paul Carner at (315) 366-6035

FINGER LAKES

April 6                        Child Safety Seat Check - Wayne County
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Williamson Middle School, 4184 Miller Street, Williamson, NY 14589
Agency: Wayne County Sheriff's Office
Contact: Deputy Heather Laws at (315) 946-5786

April 10                     Child Safety Seat Check - Oswego County
3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Paul V. Moore High School, 44 School Drive, Central Square, NY 13036
Agency: Oswego County Traffic Safety Board
Contact: Kyle Boeckmann at (315) 343-2344 ext. 22

SOUTHERN TIER

April 20                     Child Safety Seat Check - Tompkins County
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Cornell University Garage, 307 Palm Road, Ithaca, NY 14853
Agency: Cornell University Police
Contact: Beverly Van Cleef at (607) 255-7305

April 27                     Child Safety Seat Check - Steuben County
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Armstrong Telephone Company, State Route 417, Addison, NY 14801
Agency: Steuben County Sheriff's Office
Contact: Sergeant Matt Sorge at (607) 622-3911

WESTERN NEW YORK

April 6                        Child Safety Seat Check - Erie County
3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Catholic Health Administration and Training Center
144 Genesee Street, Buffalo, NY 14203
Agency: Catholic Health of Buffalo, Safe Kids of Western New York
By Appointment Only
Contact: Health Connections at (716) 447-6205

April 6                        Child Safety Seat Check - Niagara County
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Mount Saint Mary's Hospital
5300 Military Road, Lewiston, NY 14092
Agency: Catholic Health of Buffalo, Safe Kids of Western New York
By Appointment Only
Contact: Health Connections at (716) 447-6205

If you cannot attend one of the listed free child car seat inspections, you can make an appointment with a child seat inspection site near you. The above schedule may be subject to changes. Find more information on upcoming child safety seat checks near you.  See ratings on all car seats.

In addition to car seat inspections, 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 child safety seat and finding the right car seat based a child’s age and size.

For more information about DMV, visit dmv.ny.gov, or follow the DMV conversation online at Facebook and Twitter.

For more information about GTSC, visit safeny.ny.gov, or follow the GTSC conversation at Facebook and Twitter.

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