Brindisi Introduces Measure To Better Protect Children In Car Seats

A local state lawmaker is introducing legislation requiring child under the age of two who are passengers in a car to be secured in a rear-facing child restraint seat.

Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi says statistics show that children are best protected when they face the rear in a car seat.

Brindisi says studies have shown that the risk of injury for a one-year old child is more than five times greater if they're in a forward-facing car seat.

He says the recommended use of car safety seats is not required law in New York state.  Current state law requires children under the age of 4 to ride in a car seat, but the law doesn't say how long a child should ride the rear of the car.

Children under two who exceed the height and weight requirements for rear-facing seats would be exempt from the new law.

Brindisi was joined by Ed Welsh, the General Manager of AAA Northeast in Utica, which is supporting the legislation.

The new law would not take effect until November of 2019.  Brindisi says that would give parents time to learn about the law and for manufacturers to fill the need for more rear-facing child restraint seats.