Child passenger restraints are not an option; they are the law! All children must be restrained in an appropriate child restraint system until they reach their 8th birthday, while riding in a motor vehicle. An appropriate child restraint system is one that meets the child’s size and weight recommended by the manufacturer.
The safety belt in your vehicle is not designed for children. A booster seat raises your child up so that the safety belt fits your child correctly and provides the proper protection.
The NYS Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee provides valuable information on Occupant Restraint & Child Passenger Safety It is important to select a car seat based on your child’s age and size, and to choose a seat that fits in your vehicle and use it every time. What type of restraint should you use for your child? A rear-facing car seat, forward-facing car seat, booster seat, or a seat belt? You can find the answers in Car Seat Recommendations for Children. Nine out of ten car seats are not installed correctly.
Dutchess County has Child Passenger Safety Fitting Stations located throughout the County to help you make sure your child’s seat is installed correctly. Some child safety seats are recalled because of a safety defect. How can you be alerted if your child is in a recalled car seat?
Data collected county-wide from all the Child Passenger Safety Fitting Stations reveals that more than 636 child safety seats were inspected and installed, and 96 seats were distributed to parents/families in need in 2021. Since 2001 the Dutchess County Child Passenger Safety Coalition has collectively inspected and installed more than 29,381 child safety seats and replaced more than 7,952.
Child passenger safety videos and educationals materials are available.
