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ABC'S OF CARPOOLING Tips for Safe Transportation of Child Passengers Everyday millions of parents place their children in the cars of friends and neighbors as they send them off to school, daycare and extra curricular activities. Carpooling is a convenient way to cut down on the time spent transporting children, as well as bring down travel costs. The average carpool ride does not last long, but there is still plenty of time for tragedy to strike. Most automobile crashes occur on short trips at low speeds. In fact, three-fourths of all automobile crashes happen within 25 miles of home and 40% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes take place on roads where the speed limit is 45 mph or less. With more states passing stricter child passenger safety laws requiring children to remain in safety seats longer, parents may wonder how these laws relate to carpooling. Legislation may vary from state to state on whether booster age child passengers need to ride in safety seats while they are being carpooled. However, the fact still remains that the safest place for children to travel by automobile is in an age/weight appropriate child restraint system. According to a recent study from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, booster seats reduce the risk of death and injury by 54 percent. Always place children under 12 in the rear seat of a vehicle. Booster seats, car seats or seat belts should be provided for every child passenger in the vehicle. Choose booster seats that are appealing to children, such as models with cup holders, brightly colored patterns and that are easy to carry (backless booster seats weigh less than five pounds). Don't forget to check that all child safety seats are properly secured according to the manufacturer's instructions. Every door should be locked once all passengers are safely buckled in the vehicle. If child safety locks are available, make sure they are in place. Fill out a contact sheet for every child in the car pool. Keep this information readily available in case of an emergency. Used by permission Submitted by: Lindsay Lebresco Public Relations & Advertising Manager Graco Children's Products