ALBANY – Most children under age 2 will soon be required to sit in a rear-facing car seat under a new law set to take effect next month.
The new mandate has been a long time coming: It cleared the state Legislature and was signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2017.
Safety advocates applauded the new law, saying it will help children stay safe in vehicles.
The law takes effect Nov. 1.
“Traffic crashes are a leading killer of children," John Corlett, the legislative committee chairman for AAA New York, said in a statement.
Vehicle crashes, according to AAA, are the top cause of injury deaths for children and young adults between the ages of 5 and 24 and the second leading cause of injury deaths for children ages 1 to 4.
The law only applies to children who do not exceed a car seat's occupant size and weight recommendations set by the manufacturer.
Previously, there was no age requirement to use rear-facing car seats in New York, only recommendations from the manufacturer.
"Children under 2 are 75% more likely to suffer injury if they were in a forward-facing seat rather than a rear-facing seat; for children 12-23 months old, the risk is more than five times greater," the bill memo said.
A total of 675 children under the age of 12 were killed in car crashes in 2017, according to statistics from the Center of Disease Control and Preventions. Another 116,000 were injured that same year.
Of those killed, 35% were not wearing seat belts.
"Child restraints – car seats and booster seats – work to reduce this risk,” Corlett said.
Similar legislation was in 2016, but failed to gain traction.
"By ensuring that children under the age of two are restrained in a rear facing car seat, we can limit the effects a car accident may have on their head and neck and increasing their safety as a whole," the bill's sponsor, Sen. Joseph Robach, R-Greece, Monroe County, said in a statement.
Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, D-Ossining, Westchester County, also sponsored the legislation.
Children under 2 are already required to sit in rear-facing car seats in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, and Oklahoma.
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| Sirona Eternis S | Uppababy Knox | Nuna Rava | Maxi Cosi Magellan | Britax Boulevard Clicktight | Clek Foonf | Diono Radian 3 RXT | |
| Dimensions | 25.5" H x 20" W x 25.3" D | 16" L x 19" W x 25" H | 19.25"W x 24.25" D x 24"H | 23 L x 20.5 W x 23.5 H | 17.5 L x 17 W x 28-32.5 H | 21.46" x 10" x 30.5" | |
| Weight | 26 lbs | 27.9 lbs | 20 lbs | 10" x 30" x 21.5 | 36 lbs | 21.46" x 10" x 30.5" | |
| Rear-facing weight capacity | 4 lbs - 50 lbs | 5-40 lbs (with insert) 14-40 (without insert) | 5-50 lbs | 5-40 lbs | 5-40 lbs | 5 -50 lbs (with insert) 14-50 lbs | 30.4 lbs |
| Forward-facing weight capacity | 22 lbs - 65 lbs | 25-65 lbs | 25-65 lbs | 22-120 lbs | 20-65 lbs | 22-65 lbs | 30.4 lbs |
| Recline Positions | 6 position - one handed | 5 position | 7 positions | 7 positions | 3 position | 30.4 lbs | |
| Adjustable Headrest | 12 position | 9 position | 10 position | 14 position | 14 position | 10 positions | 30.4 lbs |
| No rethread harness | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | x | x |
| Side Impact Protection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Installation options | Latch/Belt Path | Latch/Belt Path | Latch/Belt Path/Clightight | Latch/Belt Path | Latch/Belt Path/Clicktight | Latch/Belt Path | Latch/Belt Path |
| Machine-washable | ✓ | ✓ | x | x | ✓ | ||
| Included Accessories | Cup holders, infant insert | Cup holders, infant insert | Cup holders, infant insert | Infant Insert | x | Inline | |
| Included accessories | $349.95 | $399.99 - $449.99 | $449.95 | $349.99 | $299.95 | $449.99 | $299.99 |