From the American Automobile Association

Protecting Child Passengers

For kids to be Seated Safe and Secure, proper installation-and standardization-are key.

Injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 1-14 years old, according to figures from the National Center for Health Statistics Vital Statistics System. In fact, those same numbers show that crashes are at the root of nearly 46 percent of unintentional injury-related deaths in this group.

While statistics are also beginning to show that child restraint use is on the rise--according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) compliance increased from 88 to 95 percent for infants, 61 to 91 percent for toddlers and 58 to 66 percent for youths, between 1994 and 2000--public education and advocacy are still vital to ensuring the safety of child passengers.

To that end, in March AAA launched a multi-year national education and advocacy campaign called "Seated Safe and Secure." One of its goals is to see legislation passed by 2005 in every state and the District of Columbia to close the loopholes in cur-rent occupant protection laws and ensure children under 18 are properly restrained. AAA also sent an open letter to all major auto manufacturers asking them to encourage dealerships to have a trained safety seat technician on staff and to offer affordable, user-friendly child-passenger seat options in more models.

AAA has also been active in the movement toward standardization for car seat installation. In particular, the club has been a proponent of the LATCH system.

LATCH, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, is a simpler, standardized method of child-passenger restraint that relies on a system of tethers and anchors, rather than on seat belts. As of September 2000, all new cars, minivans and light trucks should have a tether anchor, which attaches to a top adjustable tether strap on the back of child safety seats manufactured since September 1999. The strap has a hook for securing the seat to a tether anchor found either on the rear shelf area of the vehicle or, in the case of mini-vans and station wagons, on the rear floor or on the back of the rear seat of the vehicle.

By September 2002, NHTSA says, all cars, mini-vans and light trucks must come equipped with lower safety seat anchorage points located between the vehicle's seat cushion and seat back. All child safety seats must by then have two attachments that will connect to a vehicle's lower anchorage points.

"AAA Mid-Atlantic has certified technicians available in many local offices in New Jersey, and is now in the process of certifying all Public Affairs managers, Safety representatives and Traffic Safety specialists across the club," says Norm Grimm, AAA Mid-Atlantic director of Driver Safety Services. "By mid-summer, we'll have nearly 20 certified people on staff in the Mid-Atlantic." To make sure your child restraint is installed correctly, schedule an inspection by calling 800/374-9806. Child restraint checks are by appointment only.

NHTSA is another great resource for child safety seat inspections. Visit their Web site, nhtsa.gov and click on "Child Seat Inspections" (in the left "Popular Information" column) for a list of certified technicians in your area. Or call, toll-free, 888/DASH-2-DOT (327-4236).