BUFFALO, N.Y. — Starting Friday, parents here in New York will need to have a rear-facing car seat for their children if they're under the age of 2.
It's all part of a bill signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo in October 2017 requiring children under 2-years-old to ride in car seats facing the rear of the vehicle.
The goal is to better protect babies and toddlers during crashes. Small children often have disproportionately large heads. They're a lot more at risk of serious injuries to their neck, head, or spine if they're thrown ahead in a front-facing seat.
New York State Police offers free car seat checks for parents when they need one. There are also a number of locations across New York offering free car seat inspections throughout the month of November.
For a closer look at the new regulations, check out our previous story here.