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.

Story from Democrat & Chronicle

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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

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