Families in Scarsdale and surrounding communities can get their car seats inspected for free on Saturday, Aug. 1, when certified technicians set up at Scarsdale Village Hall to check installations and help caregivers secure their children's seats correctly.
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1001 Post Road. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians from the Scarsdale Fire Department, Scarsdale Police Department, and the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee will inspect seats, verify they are properly anchored, and adjust harnesses on the spot, according to the village's announcement posted Friday, July 17.
The check is free and open to the public. The village announcement does not mention registration; residents with questions can contact the Scarsdale Fire Department or Scarsdale Police Department for details.
The case for a seat check
The statewide numbers underscore why events like this exist. In 2025, grant-funded inspection stations across New York checked 8,213 car seats and found fewer than 20 percent installed correctly, according to the NYS Governor's Traffic Safety Committee's annual report. The committee distributed 1,756 replacement seats statewide that year to families whose seats were unsafe, expired, or damaged.
Nationally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2023, roughly 125,800 children ages 14 and younger were injured in vehicle crashes and 700 were killed. Correctly installed car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers, according to NHTSA data.
New York now has 2,112 certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians trained through GTSC-funded programs, drawn from local police departments, fire and EMS agencies, county health departments, and nonprofits.
How to prepare
Families should arrive with their car seat already installed in the vehicle so technicians can evaluate the full setup. Bring the car seat's instruction manual if available. The Scarsdale Fire Department and Police Department can answer questions ahead of the event.
Upcoming community calendar
- Saturday, Aug. 1 — Free Car Seat Safety Check, Scarsdale Village Hall, 1001 Post Road, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Sept. 21–27 — National Child Passenger Safety Week (NHTSA)
