AAA Joins IDOT to Host Sixty-Seven Safety Seat Checkpoints As Part of National Child Passenger Safety Week

AAA is teaming up with the Illinois Department of Transportation to host Seat Check Saturday on Sept. 12th, as part of the National Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 12-18. There will be 67 seat check events held statewide where parents can go to get their child seats checked for free by a trained child seat technician. To find seat check locations throughout the state, visit www.buckleupillinois.org.

"Illinois has made great strides in keeping its children safe on the roadways," said Brad Roeber, regional president of AAA Chicago. "But, there are still some parents who need assistance to ensure Illinois children are safely buckled up. We encourage these and all parents to take advantage of Seat Check Saturday as AAA wants the roads to be safe for even its youngest travelers."

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children, however 244 lives of children under age 5 were saved during collisions in 2008 because they were secured in a safety seat.

"Since the safety belt was signed into law a few years ago, we have worked hard at protecting young passengers here in Illinois," said IDOT Secretary Gary Hannig. "The bottom line is safety seats don't work unless they are properly installed and the child is correctly buckled up. We are glad to continue efforts with State Police about how to properly use a child safety seat."

For more information on any aspect of AAA Chicago's breadth of service including AAA's home, auto and life insurance products; travel-related services, AAA's Show Your Card & Save program; and/or any AAA membership service including emergency roadside assistance, please visit our Web site at www.AAA.com or call us toll-free at 1-866-YOUR-AAA (968-7222).

Formed in Chicago in 1906, AAA Chicago, also the Chicago Motor Club, represents roadway interests for motorists and pedestrians and serves as a leading advocate for various traffic safety and travel-related issues. AAA Chicago offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services. It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest affiliation of AAA clubs in the Midwest, with 4.2 million members in eight states. ACG clubs belong to the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization, with more than 50 million members in the United States and Canada.