ALBANY - New York State first lady Michelle Paige Paterson was joined by the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Health, certified child safety seat technicians and representatives of law enforcement agencies at a child car seat safety check in Albany County to kick off a statewide child passenger safety awareness campaign, "New York's 4 Steps 4 Kids." The event was one of 21 statewide offering free car seat inspections by certified technicians.

Governor David Paterson has proclaimed the week of September 21-27 as Child Passenger Safety Week in the Empire State, which coincides with National Child Passenger Safety Week. First Lady Paige Paterson serves as honorary spokesperson for the 4 Steps 4 Kids campaign.

"New York State is a leader in highway safety and is committed to saving lives of motorists of all ages through public information and education efforts," said First Lady Paige Paterson. "Our ultimate goal is to work toward increasing the correct use of safety restraint systems, focusing attention on the lifesaving benefits that will help reduce death and serious injury to children across the state."

New York State law requires all children under the age of 4, when passengers in a motor vehicle, to be secured in a federally approved child safety seat, and children aged 4 through 6 must be secured in an appropriate restraint system, according to the manufacturer's recommendation for size. All children between 7 and 16 must wear seat belts whenever they are passengers in any vehicle.