State Police are urging drivers to make sure their children are buckled up safely.

Troopers will participate in the National Child Passenger Safety Week from September 18th through the 24th. It's an ongoing effort to draw attention to the dangers kids face in car crashes.

Car crashes are a leading cause of hospitalizations and hospital emergency room visits for children under one-year-old. When properly installed and used, child safety seats reduce fatalities by 71 percent for infants riding in cars.

Child safety experts recommend parents-to-be install a rear-facing child safety seat in their car at least one month prior to the expected delivery date of their baby. Always read and follow the seat's manufacturers instructions and the vehicle owner's manual when installing the child safety seat.

During the safety week, state police, local law enforcement agencies and highway safety professionals will join forces to help keep children safe. They will be out in force with numerous checkpoints and daily patrols, making sure children are strapped in safely.

New York State law requires children to use a child safety seat up to the age of 8-years-old.

"Rear-facing child safety seats provide infants protection at a stage when they are most vulnerable to injury", said State Police Major Mark Koss. "When a baby rides rear-facing, their head, neck and torso are cradled by the back of the safety seat reducing the risk of injury in a crash."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends keeping infants in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible, up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat for the best possible protection. At a minimum, infants should ride rear-facing in a semi-reclined position until they reach age one and weigh 20 pounds.

There are safety benefits for keeping children in rear-facing child safety seats longer. A recent research study found that children one-to-two years-old were five times safer when riding in rear-facing child safety seats when compared to forward-facing child safety seats. Many convertible child safety seats have higher weight limits which allow children to ride rear-facing longer.

For a complete list of certified CPS technicians, child safety seat fitting stations, and child safety seat check-up events in your area, click here.