July 9 is Child Passenger Safety Day in Michigan

AAA Strollerthon will raise funds to give free child safety seats to needy

DEARBORN, Mich., July 1 -- In an effort to increase awareness of the proper use and installation of child safety seats and booster seats, state legislators have designated July 9, 2005 as Child Passenger Safety Day in Michigan.

The date coincides with AAA Michigan's annual AAA Strollerthon, a fund- raising event designed to provide free child passenger safety seats and booster seats to low-income families throughout the Midwest. Last summer, $54,000 was raised to buy 1,030 child passenger safety seats for distribution.

The 2005 AAA Strollerthon event -- with charity partner Michigan SAFE KIDS -- takes place July 9 at The Detroit Zoo, with registration at 8 a.m. To pre-register for the event, visit http://www.aaa.com/safety or call 1-800-646-4222.

The AAA Strollerthon will be conducted simultaneously by the six AAA Clubs that comprise The Auto Club Group (ACG) -- AAA Chicago, AAA Michigan, AAA Minnesota-Iowa, AAA Nebraska, AAA North Dakota and AAA Wisconsin.

AAA employees, members and the public will seek donations and walk or push baby strollers along a 3K, marked route around the zoo.

AAA Michigan is partnering with Michigan SAFE KIDS, Sodexho, Coca-Cola, Dasani, Hertz, WWJ-Newsradio 950 and FOX TV 2. Money raised will be used to purchase and distribute child safety seats to low-income families who might otherwise not be able to afford the proper equipment.

The AAA Strollerthon will also help build awareness of the importance of children transitioning from child safety seats to booster seats. Since safety belts are designed for adults, children using ill-fitting adult safety belts are at greater risk of injury or death. Even the most safety-conscious parents often are unaware of the dangers of placing their children in adult safety belts that fit improperly. Most kids under age 8 and under 4'9" tall are not big enough to use an adult safety belt properly.

Child passenger safety is AAA's major traffic safety initiative for 2005.

"The first AAA Strollerthon showed us that there is great support for this cause," said AAA Michigan President and COO Linda M. Woolwine. "We hope to build on that support to provide more safety and security to those who need it most. The Strollerthon and the funds we raise will ensure that the children in our communities, regardless of family income, are seated, safe and secure in age- and size-appropriate restraint systems."