Senators McManus, Garcia, Hammerstrom, Allen, Birkholz, Kuipers, Toy and Brater offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 41.

            A resolution to recognize July 9, 2005, as Child Passenger Safety Day. 

            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 safety 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 annual cost of motor vehicle occupant-related death and injury exceeds $25.8 billion 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 Senate, That we recognize AAA Michigan in 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.