AAA President Reads Booster Seat Story to Kindergarten Students

   Books to Be Donated Statewide to Elementary Schools for Teacher Use

  What:       Jeff Ogden, president of AAA Minnesota/Iowa will read a color
              storybook that promotes booster seat use to a classroom of
              kindergarten students.  Ogden also will give each student a
              coloring book with the story.  The books -- both titled What's
              Right For Me? -- feature Sammy the Squirrel, his parents and
              the Otters -- a family of four with both a child safety seat
              and a booster seat installed in their vehicle.  The
              publications focus on the child's point of view regarding
              comfort, visibility and the excitement of choosing a new
              booster seat.  AAA will donate the storybooks to elementary
              schools throughout AAA's service territory in the Midwest.
              This color booklet is designed specifically for teacher use
              with groups of young students, and will include teaching
              points and tips for parents.

  Why:        There is a tendency among parents and other caregivers to
              transition their children from child safety seats directly to
              an adult safety belt and/or shoulder harness.  That means
              child passengers in the critical age range between 4 and 8 are
              at higher risk for death or injury in the event of a crash.

  When:       9:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 17, 2005

  Where:      Parkview Elementary
              6795 Gerdine Path
              Rosemount, Minn., 55068

  Fast Facts: Nationwide, motor vehicle crashes killed a total of 2,136
              child occupants 14 years of age and under in 2003, and injured
              253,000 others.  (National Highway Traffic Safety
              Administration)

              More children die in motor vehicle crashes than from all
              childhood diseases combined.  (Minnesota Department of Public
              Safety)

              Recent research conducted by the Children's Hospital of
              Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance Companies indicates that
              appropriate child restraints for the 4-8 age group reduces the
              injury rate in car crashes by 59% over adult seat belts use
              alone.

  AAA Minnesota/Iowa, which includes more than 700,000 members, 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 4.1 million members in eight states.  ACG clubs belong to
  the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization, with more than
  45 million members in the United States and Canada.

  Contact:  Shannon Swanson, (952) 707-4623
            Gail Weinholzer, (952) 707-4985

PRNewswire -- Feb. 16