News Releases

News for January 18

New AAA Research Reveals Parent Attitudes Towards Child Passenger Safety Laws and Practices
(posted by Public Affairs on January 18 @ 11:11 )

A vast majority of parents (89 percent) agree that child restraint laws save lives, according to a new survey of the parents of young children conducted by AAA. In addition, more than nine out of ten parents (93 percent) with children under the age of eight say they know their state’s child restraint requirements for automobiles and nearly the same proportion (86 percent) agree that child restraint laws should be uniform across the United States.
The nationwide survey was conducted on the heels of the 30th anniversary of the nation’s first child passenger safety seat law, which went into effect in Tennessee in January of 1978. AAA recently surveyed parents from across the country to gather their opinions on child passenger safety, child restraint laws in their state, and how these laws influence their behavior.
“As child seat technology and legislation has evolved over the last three decades, so, too, have parental attitudes toward child passenger safety,” said Lloyd P. Albert, AAA Southern New England Senior Vice President of Public and Government Affairs and New Business Development. “At one point considered a novelty, many parents make it a priority to properly restrain their children when driving because of the proven life-saving benefits of car seats.”

Even though the parents surveyed claim they are aware of their state’s child restraint laws and feel that these laws should be consistent, only four in ten can accurately identify the age at which their state allows a child to sit in an automobile with only a lap and shoulder belt. In addition, nearly one-half of these parents believe their state’s requirement is higher than what it actually is.
“These figures suggest that child passenger safety advocates, legislators and other state officials must bolster efforts to educate parents about child restraint laws in each state,” said Mr. Albert.
Massachusetts is one of 12 states without a booster seat law. Legislation requiring children less than age 8 or less than 4’9” in height to be in a booster seat in a motor vehicle has passed the state Senate, and is awaiting action by the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
“Massachusetts lawmakers have a golden opportunity to make Bay State roads significantly safer for children up to age eight who are not currently required in booster seats, which is the law in 38 other states and the District of Columbia,” said Arthur Kinsman, AAA Southern New England Director of Government Affairs. “Let’s pass this life-saving bill before the clock expires on this year’s session, and before one more parent has to ask why their child was injured.”
According to the AAA survey, most parents (80 percent) feel that pediatricians and other physicians should educate parents about child restraint laws and the government (73 percent) should take a more active role in educating parents about child restraint laws.
Research for AAA’s Child Restraint Survey is based on a national Internet survey of 1,002 parents with children younger than eight years old.

AAA Southern New England is a not-for-profit auto club with 34 offices in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, providing more than 2 million local AAA members with travel, insurance, financial, and auto-related services.

2001 AAA Southern New England