Norwalk, Connecticut -- You can't always protect children from the world around them. But there is one thing you can help control and it could save their life -- safety in the car.

In 2006, every day an average of five children age 14 and younger were killed and 568 were injured in motor vehicle crashes in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Furthermore, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for two- to 14-year-olds. Some of these deaths and injuries could have been prevented. "As a mother of three, I know it can be difficult to juggle all the responsibilities that come with having children, but properly securing your child in the car is critical to their safety," said Liz Allison, AutoVantage spokesperson.

"Keeping a child safe in the car is our responsibility as drivers," continued Brad Eggleston, vice president of AutoVantage. "And an ounce of precaution could save a life. Here are some car safety tips from the experts at AutoVantage to help decrease the likelihood of injuries in a car:

• Set an example of good safety habits -- Always buckle up when you're driving. Even if there are no kids in the car, it could save your life.
• Children less than 12 should always be in the backseat -- Regardless of height or weight, youngsters should be in the back and properly secured in a car seat, booster seat or other size-appropriate restraining device. If there is not another option and you must place a young child in the front right seat, be sure that the child seat is properly secured and move the seat back as far as possible. If possible, turn the air-bag off. Under no circumstances should a rear-facing child seat be in the front seat if the air-bag cannot be turned off. The air bag could injure or kill a small child.
• Secure your child with the right equipment -- Depending on weight, height and age, there are a variety of seats and belt-positioning devices to choose from. If you're trying to decide what is right for your child, NHTSA and its affiliates have a wealth of helpful tips on their websites, such as http://www.safercar.gov/BASCKids2005/index.htm.
• Check your work -- Getting your child seat double-checked for safety is as easy as visiting your local police station or health department for a free inspection. Go to http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/ to find the closest participating location.
• In this case, never buy used -- You should only use new car seats. It is impossible to determine the full history of a child safety seat, and while you may know the previous owner, safety instructions may have worn off, the seat may have been stored improperly outside the vehicle or recalls may have taken place and you won't know about them. Likewise, if you are in an accident, however minor it may seem, it is best to replace your child seat. Crash force can weaken or damage child safety restraints (CSRs) and safety belts. Many manufacturers recommend that all CSRs and safety belts be replaced after crashes. Check with your manufacturer to learn best practices after an accident.
• Be careful when switching from rear to forward-facing safety seats -- All infants should be buckled into rear-facing car seats, safely secured in the back seat. The earliest children should graduate from a rear-facing seat is when they are both age one and at least 20 pounds. Once both of those criteria are met, they can graduate to a forward-facing CSR. Forward-facing seats should be used until they reach the upper weight limits of the particular seat (usually around age four and 40 pounds.)
• Be cautious about when your child graduates to a seat belt alone -- Child safety seats are appropriate until your vehicle's safety belt fits correctly. This will vary for your child depending on size and weight. The time is right when your child sits with his/her back against the vehicle seat and his/her knees bend comfortably over the edge. The lap belt should fit snugly across the lower hips and upper thighs (not the soft abdomen) and the shoulder belt should likewise fit snugly across the chest and collarbone. This usually happens at age eight or when a child is 4'9" tall. Until your children meet all of these criteria, they should remain in a CSR or booster seat.
• Know if your vehicle's airbags are a danger to your child -- As always, children under 12 should be in the backseat. This prevents impact from the frontal airbags. But if your car has side-impact air-bags (excluding current roof-mounted head SABs), they also could be dangerous for your child. By NHTSA recommendation, many manufacturers ship new vehicles with the rear bags deactivated and allow consumers with children to make the decision to activate them. Get the facts from the manufacturer about your vehicle's air bag system and if it is safe to use with your CSR.