Phoenix, Ariz. April 27, 2009 – Each year, hundreds of children are tragically injured or killed on Arizona roadways.  Many of these tragedies are the result of improper use of a safety belt, or no use of a safety seat at all.  The Arizona Department of Health Services reports that 73 percent of children between the ages of five and nine who were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2007 were not properly restrained in seat belts or booster seats.

AAA Arizona is backing multiple efforts in a bid to prevent future tragedies like these. Earlier this year, the auto club stood by legislation introduced by Sen. Linda Gray, which would close  the loophole in Arizona’s current child passenger safety law. The bill, SB1050, would require children older than 5 years of age but younger than 9 and shorter than 4’9” to be secured in a booster seat when riding in a motor vehicle. Arizona is currently one of only four states without a law which properly protects child passengers over the age of 5.

“The data is overwhelming—we know that booster seats save lives,” said Linda Gorman, public affairs director for AAA Arizona.  “There is no excuse for not protecting our state’s most precious cargo—our children.  The time is long overdue for lawmakers to do what’s right and pass this life-saving legislation.”

To further promote this message, AAA and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment have joined together to educate parents, caregivers and children on the importance of child passenger safety.  Recently released in major retail and online outlets, the Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Big Journeys DVD will provide consumers with a special AAA-branded insert focusing on the proper use of child safety seats and other child passenger safety information.  AAA members can save $2 and receive free shipping on the purchase of the DVD through FoxStore.com until June 16. Members can take advantage of this offer by clicking on the banner ad from the Strawberry Shortcake game page on AAA’s newly launched microsite, www.AAA.com/SafeSeats4Kids.   

The new and interactive microsite also includes educational and fun games for children, featuring Strawberry Shortcake and games created by PAWs, Inc., the creative house that supports licensing for the popular cartoon character, Garfield. In addition, the site contains child passenger safety information for parents and caregivers.

“AAA Arizona will continue to grow our child passenger safety message with a variety of online and on the ground tools, in order to reach and educate as many parents and caregivers as we can about child passenger restraint systems,” Gorman added.

AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services to nearly 800,000 Arizona members.  Annually, AAA’s Emergency Road Service responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on the streets and highways of the state as well as providing insurance, travel, and financial services to AAA members and motorists.  Since its founding in 1902, AAA has been a leading advocate for the safety, security, and peace of mind of all travelers.  AAA can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com. 

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