Phoenix, AZ, January 11, 2010. As the 2010 Arizona State Legislative Session begins, AAA Arizona hopes that legislators will take an important step in saving children’s lives by passing SB 1010, sponsored by Senator Linda Gray. Scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Public Safety and Human Services Committee this Wednesday at 9 a.m., this bill closes an important loophole in the state’s child passenger law.
“As an advocate for the safety and security of the traveling public, AAA Arizona wholeheartedly supports this legislation, which would give our state’s most precious cargo the protection they deserve,” said Linda Gorman, public affairs director for AAA Arizona. “There is simply no excuse not to pass this much-needed and long overdue legislation.”
SB 1010 would require children age 9 and younger and less than 4’9” tall to sit in a booster seat, when riding in a motor vehicle, since the use of an adult safety belt alone will not properly protect them in the event of a crash.
Arizona is currently one of three states without a law which properly protects child passengers over the age of five.
Under Arizona’s current child passenger law, parents and caregivers are able to transition children from a car seat to an adult seat belt at the age of 5. However, by following this guidance, they are unknowingly jeopardizing their child’s safety. Children using an adult seat belt without a booster seat can suffer from serious head, spine and abdominal injuries, slip out of the belt or even be ejected from the vehicle in the event of a crash.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the proper use of a safety seat can reduce a child’s fatality risk by up to 71 percent. Additional research by the agency indicates that using a booster seat with a seat belt as opposed to using a seat belt alone can reduce a child’s injury risk in a crash by up to 59 percent.
In an effort to keep Arizonans informed and engaged on SB 1010, as well as other transportation issues, AAA has a launched a new interactive web site, www.azlegislation.com. Web site visitors will have the chance to stay abreast of issues that impact them, as well as engage in the debate with other online community members.
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 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. |
