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AAA and Busytown Bring You Child Passenger Safety
Dedicated to developing, implementing and supporting driver and traffic safety programs for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and children since its founding in 1902, AAA has been an advocate for safety for decades. One of the many messages AAA delivers is a focus on child passenger safety.
In recognition of National Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 19-25, AAA has joined forces with the timeless characters from the Busytown book series by author Richard Scarry—one of the best-selling children's authors of all time—to promote child passenger safety. Scarry's most famous series, Busytown has sold over 100 million copies and has been translated into 30 languages.
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Child passenger safety is a very important message to get across. Each year, there are countless child accidents and deaths in the U.S. due to car crashes. AAA and your children's friends at Busytown are committed to stressing the importance of safety in the vehicle because, sadly, car accidents remain the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. Fortunately, research shows that many of these deaths are preventable.
Seat belts and child safety seats, when used properly, are the most effective tools available to prevent death and injury in a car crash. To keep your kids safe, always use the appropriate car seat and follow the guidelines you can find online at AAA.com/SafeSeats4Kids.
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A few key reminders:
- Rear-facing seats should be used in the back seat from birth into the second year of life. It's safest to keep your baby rear-facing as long as possible until the upper weight limit of your rear-facing convertible seat, which will be around 35 pounds. At a minimum, your child should be rear-facing until age 1 and 20 pounds.
- Forward-facing toddler seats should be used in the back seat once your child reaches the upper weight or height limit of your rear-facing convertible seat. It is safest to keep children in a forward-facing seat until they reach the maximum weight (around 40-65 pounds) or height of the harness.
- Booster seats are used in the back seat from about age 4 to at least age 8, unless your child is at least 4'9" tall.
- Lap and shoulder safety belts can be used once the seat belt fits properly, which is usually around age 8 or taller than 4'9". The lap portion of the belt should be low across the child's hips and upper thighs, with the shoulder belt coming across the collarbone and chest.
Did you know that more than three out of four car seats are installed incorrectly? Contact 1-866-SEAT-CHECK to find a certified child passenger safety technician near you to make sure your car seat is installed correctly. Join AAA and the characters from Richard Scarry's Busytown to make a difference. Learn the facts and share the important message.
Visit the AAA Community at AAA.com for more information.
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Enter the AAA and Richard Scarry coloring contest today in the AAA Community at AAA.com. Simply download the coloring page, let your child color away, and either scan the page or take a photo of it. Then upload the final image back to AAA Community. Every entry wins a free Richard Scarry book, as well as a chance to win one of three $250 Visa Gift Cards!