Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release #09-041

DOT to Hold Child Safety-Seat Installation Workshops on Sat., Sept. 12, In Harlem

Parents and caregivers are invited to attend session, kicking off Child Passenger Safety Week

90% of child safety seats installed improperly

The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) is hosting a free child safety-seat inspection and installation workshop on Sat., Sept. 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chevrolet of Harlem parking lot at 2485 Second Avenue, between 127th and 128th Streets, to educate parents and caregivers about the critical importance of these life-saving devices and to provide hands-on guidance for installing them correctly. No appointment is necessary. Participants must bring their own seats for installation.

DOT's car-seat technicians will work one-on-one with attendees and provide evaluations of child-safety seats and train participants in their proper installation. The workshop is the latest in a DOT safety education program to bring car-seat safety sessions to all five boroughs and kicks off Child Passenger Safety Week, which concludes on Sept. 18.

A recent review by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children age three to six nationwide. Safety seats have been found to reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants less than one year old and by 54% for children ages one through four.

Still, if a seat is improperly installed, it cannot provide the same level of protection. According to NHTSA, a stunning 90% of child restraints are installed incorrectly. In New York City, DOT found that only 4% of more than 800 child-safety seats had been properly installed. By providing instructions, hands-on advice and troubleshooting, DOT aims to make New York City's streets safer for all who use them, including the youngest passengers on the roads.

For more information about this event, upcoming car-seat checks or details about DOT's car safety seat inspection stations in each of the five boroughs, visit www.nyc.gov/dot or call 311. For more information on Child Passenger Safety Week, visit www.nhtsa.gov/cps.

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