AAA and the Minnesota Safety Council Remind Families to Use Age-Appropriate Child Safety Seats

As the school year comes to a close, many families seize the opportunity to pile in their vehicle and head to their favorite summer vacation destination. AAA and the Minnesota Safety Council remind motorists that children should be properly buckled in an age-appropriate safety seat until they are big enough to safely wear the car’s lap and shoulder belt.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 7,500 lives have been saved by the proper use of child restraints during the past 20 years. Yet, motor vehicle crashes still remain the number one killer of children ages 2 to 14 in America.

“Whether you’re planning a trip to the beach, general sightseeing or visiting family and friends, choose an age-appropriate child safety seat and make sure it is being used correctly,” said Gail Weinholzer, public affairs director, AAA Minnesota/Iowa. “If your child has outgrown their car seat with the harness, use a booster seat until they are approximately age 8 or four feet nine inches tall.”

In selecting a car seat, consumers should use a seat that fits their vehicle, fits their child and will be installed and used correctly every time.

If you have difficulty installing your child’s car seat, visit CarSeatsMadeSimple.org. Developed by the AAA Clubs of Minnesota and the Minnesota Safety Council, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, the Web site offers solutions to parents and other caregivers who face a confusing array of child safety restraint choices and installation options.

“Parents and other caregivers hear that most car seats are installed improperly and it shakes their confidence,” said Erin Petersen, family safety programs coordinator for the Minnesota Safety Council. “But a great majority of those errors are very basic and can be avoided.”

Traffic safety experts emphasize that the safest place for a child in a motor vehicle is always in the back seat. According to NHTSA, research has shown that children ages 12 and under are 26-35 percent less likely to be fatally injured in a crash if they are buckled in the rear seat.

A recent study released by The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that 46 percent of children ages 4-8 were improperly restrained in adult seat belts, making them three times more likely to be injured in a crash than younger infants and toddlers. For children under the age of 8, following the guidelines for age- and size-appropriate restraint can reduce the risk of serious injury in a vehicle crash to less than 1 percent.

Children imitate adult behavior. Create a life-long seat belt habit for your children and buckle every body in every seat, every time so you can all enjoy the family’s favorite destination this summer!

AAA offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 50 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA Minnesota/Iowa is part of The Auto Club Group, with 4.1 million members in eight Midwest states.

The Minnesota Safety Council, founded in 1928, is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Minnesota by preventing unintentional injuries and deaths.

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