CMCDA Auto Dealers Kick off National Child Passenger Safety Month

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 7 -- New car dealerships in California are hosting child safety inspections throughout September, as part of Child Passenger Safety Month, sponsored by the California Motor Car Dealers Association (CMCDA) and National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Child Passenger Safety Month coincides with the back-to-school timeframe, when many children will be on the roads each day.

"It's a national tragedy that so many children are injured or killed in vehicle crashes every year, and auto dealers are committed to providing families with the resources needed to protect their children on our roads," said Ed Fitzpatrick, CMCDA Chairman and a Modesto new car dealer. "We hope others will join us in this life-saving effort, not just in September, but year-round."

More than 40,000 child passengers under age four are injured or killed in car crashes annually, according to NHTSA. The Agency reports that over 50,000 children between four and eight years old are injured or killed riding in cars annually. Approximately 40 percent of children under the age of eight who die or suffer serious injuries in fatal car crashes are completely unrestrained. The following California dealerships will participate: Hobbie Auto Center of Oroville (event date: Sept. 10); Los Gatos Chevrolet of Los Gatos (event date: Sept. 10); Normandin Chrysler Jeep of San Jose (event date: Sept. 17); Connell Auto Center of Oakland (event date: Sept. 24); Jim Keil Chevrolet of Grass Valley (event date: Sept. 18); and Santa Paula Chevrolet of Santa Paula (event date: Sept. 24 & 25).

About CMCDA

The California Motor Car Dealers Association (CMCDA) is a statewide trade association that represents the interests of more than 1,400 franchised new car dealer members. CMCDA members are primarily engaged in the retail sale and lease of new vehicles, and also engage in automotive service, repair and part sales. CMCDA promotes fair and ethical business practices through a wide range of educational programs, services and industry publications. For more information, visit CMCDA's Web site: www.cmcda.org.