Updated Car Guide Can Help Teens and Parents Find a Safe Vehicle Before Students Return to School

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - August 1, 2007) - Parents and teens looking to purchase a safe new vehicle before school begins can find help with AAA's updated "Buying a Safer Car" brochure containing valuable consumer information on crash tests, rollover rating and safety features.

Available at the Automobile Club of Southern California's 76 local offices, the guide was produced jointly by AAA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "Buying a Safer Car" provides comprehensive safety information for all new cars, light trucks, minivans and sport-utility vehicles. It also includes crash-test ratings for those vehicles.

According to Steve Mazor, manager of the Auto Club's Automotive Research Center, the booklet is in response to the public's increasing concern about safety and safety features in vehicles. The booklet rates vehicles by how much they exceed the federal government's minimum standards.

The guide can help parents and teen motorists answer the following key questions when shopping for a safer vehicle. They include:

--  How well does this vehicle protect people during a crash?
--  What features does this vehicle have to help you avoid a crash?
--  What other types of advanced safety features does this vehicle have?
--  What is the likelihood of this vehicle rolling over in a single-
    vehicle crash?
    

"Driving a vehicle with advanced safety features and a high rating for crash protection may save your life or your passenger's life in the event of a car crash," said Mazor. "This is especially important for teen drivers who are still developing their driving skills."

Sometimes it also will save you money, he added. In some states, certain safety features on a vehicle, such as air bags and anti-lock brakes, reduce the cost of insurance. Safety features and high crash protection ratings may also boost the vehicle's resale value.

"The information in this brochure enables the motorist to compare all new vehicle features to ensure getting the best value," said Mazor.

For more information, log onto www.AAA.com/publicaffairs or call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.

Contact Information: Contact: Elaine Beno/Carol Thorp 714-885-2333