New York Car Seat Laws Are Changing: Here's What You Need to Know

Children younger than 2 will be required to ride in a rear-facing car seat.

By Bethany Braun-Silva November 8, 2017

Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed a law that requires children younger than 2 to ride in a rear-facing car seat as a safety measure. Until now there has been no age requirement tied to rear-facing car seats in New York.

The new car seat law will take effect on Nov. 1, 2019, which gives parents and drivers plenty of time to learn about the important change and plan accordingly.

“A rear-facing car seat law will help prevent injuries," John Corlett, legislative chairman for AAA of New York, said in a statement. "Young children are safer in rear-facing car seats, and prior child passenger safety laws have reduced injuries among targeted populations. In New York, a 1-year-old child is injured in a traffic crash once a day, on average.”

The legislation states that driving accidents are one of the major causes of death in young children and that injuries and death can be prevented if a child rides rear-facing for a longer period of time. Rear-facing car seats provide more support to a child's head and neck and similar laws have been passed in California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

"By ensuring that children under the age of 2 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," said Senator Joseph Robach, R-Greece, in a statement.

While it is much safer for young children to ride in a rear-facing car seat, children who exceed the height and weight requirements of the car seat—even before age 2—can be turned around in a forward-facing car seat.

As parents, keeping our kids safe in the car is a top priority. You can learn more about the new car seat law here and should plan accordingly and read car seat instructions fully so your family is safe today and prepared when the new car seat law goes into effect on Nov. 1, 2019.