Part six of a six-part series on summer safety.

Summertime is a common time for travel and vacations, and just getting there can pose a danger on busy highways!

Almost 1,000 kids under the age of 14 die each year as passengers in motor vehicle accidents. About 168,000 kids are seriously injured, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But the Savvy Auntie knows she can prevent these injuries just by making sure her nieces and nephews are wearing seat belts or are in proper child safety seats. Child safety seats reduce the risk of death by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for children ages one to four. And all kids ages 12 and younger should always be sitting in the back seat.

While no Savvy Auntie would ever drink and drive her nieces an nephews around, our multi-tasking busy working Auntie might not know that talking on the phone while driving is just as dangerous as drinking and driving.

Worse yet, texting while driving is twice as dangerous as drinking and driving! Studies from the University of Utah show that distracted driving using either a hand held or hands free phone can delay your reaction time as much as having a blood alcohol level at .08. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that over 6,000 people die every year from distracted driving and more than 500,000 people are injured.

So buckle up and pay attention, Auntie - and make sure there are plenty more safe summers for you and your nieces and nephews.

Published: July 18, 2010