Press Release - 05-01-2017

DMV News


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 1, 2017

Contacts:
Joe Morrissey             [email protected]       
Rich Meddaugh          [email protected]

 

New York State DMV and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Announce Free Child Car Seat Inspections and Assistance through May 
Free Inspections Available in Albany, Broome, Clinton, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Niagara, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Tompkins and Washington Counties

 

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) today announced that free child car seat inspections are available to parents and caregivers during the month of May in Albany, Broome, Clinton, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Niagara, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Tompkins and Washington Counties. As part of a year-long safety initiative, state and local law enforcement agencies, along with various community safety partners, are offering free child car seat inspections by certified child passenger safety technicians.

 

“The beginning of summer brings opportunities to travel with your friends and family,” said Acting GTSC Chair and DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan. “I encourage motorists to learn how to properly install their children’s car seats before heading out on New York’s roadways. The advantage that these free trainings provide is knowing you’ve prepared your family to be safe and secure this summer season.”  

 

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. According to Traffic Safety Marketing (TSM), car crashes are a leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old. Many deaths and injuries can be prevented by proper use of car seats, boosters and seat belts. Getting safety information and car seat instructions to parents and caregivers is crucial to saving young lives. 

 

The main priority for this campaign is to make sure all parents and caregivers are properly trained to secure their children in a car safety restraint (rear-facing, forward-facing, booster seats, and seat belts) appropriate for the child’s age and size, and to ensure the safety restraints are properly used and installed by parents and caregivers. 

 

In 2012, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) survey found that 20 percent of all drivers of child passengers did not read any instructions on how to properly install their child restraints, yet 90 percent felt “confident” or “very confident” that their car seats and booster seats were installed correctly. 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 cars. 

 

Below is a listing of child safety seat checks available across the state for May:

 

May 4              Child Safety Seat Check - Albany County

                        3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Elm Avenue Park, 261 Elm Avenue, Delmar, NY 12054
Agency: Bethlehem Police Department
Contact: Sgt. Frank Muller at (518) 439-9973

 

May 6              Child Safety Seat Check – Broome County

                        10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Oakdale Mall, Near Ruby Tuesday's entrance, 601-635 Harry L Drive,

Johnson City, NY 13790

Agency: New York State Police

Contact: Sgt. Joseph Hommel at (607) 561-7606

 

May 6              Child Safety Seat Check – Rensselaer County

                        10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Melrose Fire Station, 784 Route 40, Melrose, NY 12121
Agency: New York State Police
Contact: Trooper Donald Fougere at (518) 783-3258 or Eric Dahl at (518) 266-1970

 

May 6              Child Safety Seat Check – Erie County

                        2:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Catholic Health of Buffalo
144 Genesee Street, Buffalo, NY 14203
Agency: Catholic Health and SafeKids WNY
Registration Required
Contact: For Registration: (716) 447-6205

 

May 10            Child Safety Seat Check – Niagara County

                        3:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Mt. St. Mary's Hospital
5300 Military Road, Lewiston, NY 14092
Agency: Catholic Health and SafeKids WNY
Registration Required
Contact: For Registration: (716) 447-6205

 

May 12            Child Safety Seat Check – Washington County

                        10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Salem Volunteer Fire Department, 53 South Main Street, Salem, NY 12865
Agency: Washington County Public Health
Contact: Elizabeth St. John at (518) 746-2400 ext. 3478

 

May 13            Child Safety Seat Check – Clinton County

                        10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Gander Mountain, Champlain Center North, Smithfield Blvd., Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Agency: Clinton County Sheriff's Office
Contact: William Bush at (518) 565-4397

 

May 13            Child Safety Seat Check – Tompkins County

                        9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

The Cornell Grounds Shop, 307 Palm Road, Ithaca, NY 14853
Agency: Cornell University Police
Contact: Officer Bev Van Cleef at (607) 255-7305

 

May 13            Child Safety Seat Check – Niagara County

                        9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Wheatfield Pediatrics, 2890 Niagara Falls Blvd., North Tonawanda, NY 14120
Agency: Niagara County Traffic Safety Office
Contact: Grace Destino at (716) 438-3464

 

May 17            Child Safety Seat Check – Niagara County

                        4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Wheatfield Pediatrics, 2890 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Niagara Falls, NY 14304
Agency: Niagara County Traffic Safety Office
Contact: Grace Destino at (716) 438-3464

 

May 18            Child Safety Seat Check – Schenectady County

                        1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Rotterdam Fire Department, 1400 Curry Road, Rotterdam, NY 12306
Agency: Rotterdam Police Department
Contact: Sgt. Keith Collins at (518) 355-7331

 

May 20            Child Safety Seat Check – Broome County

                        10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Pierce Hill Christian Fellowship, 232 Pierce Hill Road, Vestal, NY 13850
Agency: Broome County Health Department
Contact: Christine Muss at (607) 778-2807

 

May 20            Child Safety Seat Check - Livingston County

                        10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Caledonia Village Fire Hall, 3095 Main Street, Caledonia, NY 14423
Agency: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Livingston County
Contact: Katelyn Sanders at (585) 991-5420

 

May 20            Child Safety Seat Check - Genesee County

                        11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Valu Plaza, 4152 West Main Street, Batavia, NY
Agency: City of Batavia
Contact: Robert Tedford at (585) 345-6300 ext. 5356

 

May 20            Child Safety Seat Check – Albany County

                        10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

New York State Police - Latham, 760 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham, NY 12110
By appointment only
Agency: New York State Police
Contact: Trooper Donald Fougere at (518) 783-3258

 

In addition to car seat inspections, parents and caregivers can view a series of videos produced by NHSTA. The videos, which are available on NHTSA’s website, instruct parents and caregivers how to install rear-facing car seats, forward-facing car seats, and booster seats. 

 

If you cannot attend one of the listed free child car seat inspections, you can make a free appointment with a child seat inspection site near you. Find more information on upcoming child safety seat checks near you.  See ratings on all car seats.

 

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

 

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