Summer Vacations Include Detailed Planning; Guest Editorial by: Randy Williams, president of AAA Minnesota/Iowa

BURNSVILLE, Minn.--May 22, 2006--Since travelers only have a few short months to take summer vacations, we plan them with tremendous consideration to detail concerning routes, attractions and accommodations. Unfortunately, many travelers are missing a critical step - checking to ensure all children are secured and positioned correctly. Seventy percent of fatalities and severe injuries could be prevented with the proper use of a child restraint device, and 50 percent could be prevented with proper seat belt use.

Because children come in all sizes and shapes, parents must select the appropriate child restraint based on their child's height and weight. There is an array of car seats on the market, and parents should check the manufacturer's labels to ensure the child will fit the seat. The safest car seat is the one that fits your child, fits your vehicle and is used correctly every time. All car seats manufactured in the United States must comply with the same strict federal safety standards.

Infants should ride in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least one year and 20 pounds. In addition, children should ride in car seats with a harness as long as possible. Most seats with a harness fit children up to 40 pounds, but parents should check the manufacturer's instructions for specific requirements.

If your child is more than 40 pounds, use a booster seat. A study published June 2003, in the Journal of American Medical Association provides the first scientific evidence that booster seats are effective in protecting children ages 4 through 7 from the forces in a crash, as well as from serious injuries caused by ill-fitting adult belts. These children are termed the "forgotten child" because of the failure to provide suitable protection for them.

If your child is not using a booster seat, try these simple tests next time you ride in the car together.

-- Does your child sit all the way back against the auto seat?

-- Do your child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?

-- Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?

-- Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?

-- Can the child stay seated in this position for the entire trip?

Children 12 years of age and younger should always ride in the back seat of your vehicle regardless of the airbag technology a vehicle may or may not have. Children are 39 percent safer in the back seat.

By simply checking to see if children are secured correctly in the appropriate restraint, the odds of them sustaining severe injuries in a crash are significantly decreased. We spend hours in vehicles traveling to our favorite vacation destinations. Parents must ensure children are riding safely so families can enjoy their vacation together.

AAA offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 48 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.