Phoenix, AZ, June 17, 2009 – An effort that aims to close the loophole in Arizona’s current child passenger restraint law by adding protections for older child occupants took an important step forward today when it passed out of the Senate Public Safety and Human Service Committee with a 5-0 vote.

SB 1050 would require children age 8 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 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. Texas and Minnesota both recently passed booster seat laws within the past month.

The measure has been long supported by the public and safety advocates alike. In fact, in 2007, AAA commissioned a study to determine the attitudes and behavior of parents with children age 8 and under. The results revealed that 72 percent of respondents would support a booster seat law in Arizona.

“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. “Until a child is 4’9” tall, the height of 95 percent of all 9 year olds, an adult seat belt is not designed to fit them properly.”

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.

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.

"One of the hardest parts of being an emergency nurse is caring for children who have been injured in car crashes because they were improperly restrained,” said Immediate Past-President of Arizona Emergency Nurses Association Tomi St. Mars, RN, MSN, FAEN. “Research shows that parents are reliant upon laws to keep children safe. Booster seats position the child so the adult seatbelt fits them correctly. This is not about Arizona being a "nanny" this is about keeping children safe and well.”

SB 1050 was introduced to Arizona’s 49th Legislature in early 2009 by Senator Linda Gray. The next step for the bill will be the Senate Rules Committee followed by the Senate Caucus, which will likely occur sometime within the next week.

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.