MAMARONECK, NY (September 22, 2025) — The Village of Mamaroneck Police Department announced it will offer free car seat checks by certified technicians on Sept. 27 at Harbor Island Park.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the park’s East Basin as part of Child Passenger Safety Week, which spans Sept. 21-27 and ends with National Seat Check Saturday.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration partners with local communities for the annual safety week to provide free instruction on correct car seat installation and use.
Technicians will check car seats, determine if children are in the right seats for their ages and sizes, and demonstrate proper installation.
“Unfortunately, many parents are overconfident about their car seats,” said Chief P.J. Trujillo. “They think they’re protecting their kids, but almost half of car seats are either the wrong seat for the child’s age and size, or the seats are installed incorrectly. That puts children at risk.”
According to NHTSA, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children. Every day in 2023, an average of two children 14 and younger were killed in crashes, and another 345 were injured.
“We know parents love their kids,” added Chief Trujillo “so they’ll do everything in their power to protect them. An easy way to do that is to double-check their car seats — it’s worth making sure.”
NHTSA reports that more than a third (39%) of children 14 and younger who died in crashes in 2022 in cars, pickups, vans, and SUVs were unbuckled.
The agency emphasizes that it’s never safe to ride unbuckled in a passenger vehicle, regardless of trip length or vehicle size.
More than half (52%) of the child passengers 14 and younger killed in pickup trucks in 2022 were unrestrained — more than any other vehicle category.
The right seat varies by age and stage, from rear-facing car seats to forward-facing with tethers, booster seats, or seat belts. Children should remain in each until they outgrow limits, and those under 13 should ride in the back seat.
For those unable to attend, contact the police department at 914-777-1122 ext. 3 or email cssinstall@vompd.com to check technician availability. Visit www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/car-seats-and-booster-seats#installation-help-inspection for searches filtered by Spanish-speaking technicians, virtual appointments, and events.
NHTSA.gov offers free resources on car seat types, recommendations, and comparisons.
Caregivers should register car seats with manufacturers for recall notifications. The SaferCar app allows saving vehicle, car seat, and tire info for recall alerts.
For more on child car seat safety and events, visit www.nhtsa.gov/therightseat.
The event is funded by a grant from the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.