Reps. Kolb, Zelenko, Lemmons, III, Accavitti, Adamini, Anderson, Brandenburg, Brown, Byrnes, Caswell, Clack, Condino, Cushingberry, Farrah, Gillard, Gleason, Hansen, Hopgood, Jones, Kooiman, Lemmons, Jr., Lipsey, Mayes, McDowell, Miller, Mortimer, Nitz, Nofs, Sak, Shaffer, Alma Smith, Spade, Stakoe, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Waters and Wojno offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 96.

A resolution recognizing July 9, 2005, as Child Passenger Safety Day in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, Motor vehicle crashes remain the single leading cause of death among children 14 years of age and younger; and

Whereas, Child safety seats and seat belts, when installed and used correctly, can prevent thousands of deaths and injuries; and

Whereas, Research has indicated that 2,136 children 14 years of age and younger died and another 253,000 were injured in vehicle crashes in 2003; and

Whereas, An estimated 82 percent of child safety seats are not installed or used correctly, and child safety seats, when used correctly, can reduce the risk of death in a vehicle crash by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for children ages one through four; and

Whereas, Motor vehicle crashes can result in tragic and unnecessary death and injury to children when not properly restrained.  It is estimated that if all children 14 years of age and younger were restrained properly, 182,000 serious injuries could be prevented annually; and

Whereas, The total cost of motor vehicle occupant-related death and injury exceeds $25.8 billon for all children 14 years of age and younger.  Every dollar spent on a child safety seat saves this country $32 in health care expenses; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body recognize July 9, 2005, as Child Passenger Safety Day. We recognize that AAA Michigan is designating July 9, 2005, as Child Passenger Safety Day in response to the need for increased education as it relates to the proper use and installation of child safety seats; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to AAA Michigan as a symbol of our support for their efforts in saving lives.