Lt. Governor Donohue Commences
National Child Passenger Safety Week In New York State

Officials Urge New Yorkers to Keep Children Properly Buckled

ALBANY — Lt. Governor Mary O. Donohue today joined a host of state officials, including Commissioner Raymond P. Martinez of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, who also serves as Chairman of Governor George E. Pataki’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), and State Police Superintendent James P. McMahon, to kick-off National Child Passenger Safety Week activities in New York State.

An event, co-sponsored by Governor George E. Pataki's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) and the State Police, was held in The Children's Place Daycare in the Crystal Room, which is located between Agency Buildings 1 and 2 on the Empire State Plaza.

Children from the daycare center and their parents participated in a booster seat demonstration conducted by Sgt. Jon Lupo of the State Police. Other special guests included: Ann Burton, Regional Program Manager for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and, Dr. Mara McErlean, Chief of Services and Interim Chair of Emergency Medicine at Albany Medical Center, who discussed cases in which children who were seriously injured in car crashes because they were improperly buckled or not buckled at all to their child safety seats.

"What better time than during Child Passenger Safety Week and during the week that includes Valentine’s Day to emphasize the theme of this important event, "What We Do for Love," said Lt. Gov. Donohue. "As a mother and former teacher, I recognize and greatly appreciate the need to protect our most cherished commodity -- our young children. Child safety seats offer an easy way to ensure that our children are properly buckled up and safe from harm."

Commissioner Martinez emphasized that one of Governor Pataki's top priorities is the safety of New York's children while traveling on the state's "highways and byways." That is why New York State requires young children riding in motor vehicles to be protected by child safety seats that meet federal regulations.

"Booster seats are especially important," said Commissioner Martinez, "because they protect those passengers who are too big for child safety seats, but too little for safety belts. The GTSC is promoting correct installation and use of child safety seats by supporting regional child safety seat fitting stations throughout the state."

"Despite the fact New York State boasts one of the best traffic safety records in the nation, far too many of our young children are improperly restrained when they ride in vehicles and are needlessly dying or being injured in crashes," said Superintendent James W. McMahon. "Child Passenger Safety Week presents an opportunity for the State Police, and our partner law enforcement agencies throughout the country, to teach parents how to keep their precious children as safe as possible when they drive."

"It's not just enough to put a child in the back seat and use an adult seat belt," said Dr. McErlean, "We have to recognize that children are not little adults.  They need specific restraints that are designed for their size to protect them from injury in the event of an accident.  No parent wants to see their child harmed."

STATISTICS

• Since 1993 in New York State, annual figures indicate that between 17,000 and 26,000 children between the ages of 4-8 were passengers in vehicles involved in crashes where an injury or fatality occurred.
• In injuries and crashes involving children in the 4 to 8 age group, it has been consistently shown that less than 11 percent are restrained in booster seats or child passenger safety devices.
• By contrast, New York State accident reports show that the same 4 - 8 year old age group has an 83 percent better chance of avoiding injury in a crash when protected by child restraints and riding in the rear seat.