Ask any parent, and they're sure to tell you that safety is a major priority when it comes to their kids. Keeping youngsters safe and sound is especially crucial behind the wheel, and a recent study in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons highlighted this need and offered a few guidelines for parents to follow.

One of the most important points made in the report was that child car safety does not stop when kids reach a certain age. The researchers found that 97 percent of parents with children 3 and younger use car seats and other proper restraint systems. When it came to parents of kids 4 to 6 years old, this number dropped dramatically to 42 percent. Only 46 percent of parents even know that youngsters in the age group should be using booster seats, and many simply go from using car seats to regular seat belts for those ages 4 to 7.

"The safest position for a child is the rear center seat, because side impact crashes are more likely to cause serious injury and fatality, with the greatest risk associated with perimeter seating," said lead author Dr. Walter H. Truong, a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare in Minnesota.

In addition to properly securing kids in the backseat, parents should take other steps to keep them safe on the road. Buying a reliable vehicle is a crucial component of safety, and drivers can find the perfect car, truck or SUV at New Jersey State Auto Auction. Each model is CARFAX certified, so families will have added assurance that they're driving around with the utmost security.