Craig Schneider is reporting for Newsday on the state law that went into effect November 1, requiring that infants and toddlers travel in rear-facing car seats until they are at least 2 years old or reach the maximum height and weight for the seat being used. Traffic crashes are a leading cause of death for children — more than 4,000 children under the age of 4 were injured or killed in car crashes statewide last year, according to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research. Young children's heads are disproportionately large and heavy compared to their bodies, and if a child is facing the front of the vehicle, the momentum of a crash can force their head forward, damaging their neck and spine. The rear-facing seats help to lessen the back-and-forth motion of the child's head. Car safety advocates worry that too few parents know about the new law, and they are spreading the word. Violators are subject to a minimum fine of $150, but if they show they are using the seat properly before their court date, the fine can be dropped. Read the full story at Newsday [dot] com.