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Ford Teams With National Ass of Governors' Highway Safety Representatives

1 November 2000

Ford Motor Company Teams With National Association of Governors' Highway Safety Representatives to Direct $3 Million Booster Seat Safety Education Campaign

       Educational Curriculum to be Sent to Every Day-Care, Pre-School
                     And Elementary School in the Country

    DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 1 Ford Motor Company and the
National Association of Governors' Highway Safety Representatives (NAGHSR)
have announced a $3 million booster seat safety education program.  Boost
America! teaches children ages 4 through 8 -- and their caregivers -- about
the importance of booster seats. The two groups are partnering on educational
materials to be sent to all 154,000 day care centers, pre-schools and
elementary schools in the country.
    In 1999, 778 children between the ages of 4 and 8 were killed in car
crashes -- the majority of which were improperly restrained or completely
unrestrained. Of the nearly 20 million children in the booster age group
(roughly 4 through 8), only a small number -- 6.1 percent -- according to the
latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, are
restrained in booster seats.
    "This unprecedented, national education campaign has the ability to
improve the way millions of children travel in automobiles, thereby preventing
scores of needless injuries and fatalities," said Helen O. Petrauskas, Ford
Vice President, Environment and Safety.
    "What better place to educate children on the importance of booster seats
than in the classroom," said K. Craig Allred, Chairman of NAGHSR, which
represents the highway safety programs of states and territories.  "NAGHSR is
pleased to partner with Ford Motor Company to get the word out to students and
their parents that booster seats are the cool, safe and fun way to travel."
    Two sets of educational materials have been developed, one for daycare
centers and pre-schools featuring popular cartoon characters, and one for
children in Kindergarten through Second grade.  The educational packages
include a fun introductory video, as well as activity sheets, teacher's
guides, student pledge certificates, wall posters, stickers and take-home
information to share with parents.
    As the name suggests, a booster seat boosts a child up so that the car's
lap and shoulder seat belts fit properly. They are recommended for children
who are too big for forward facing child safety seats, but too small for
regular adult seat belts -- between 40 and 80 pounds, or roughly ages 4 to 8.
When placed in poorly fitting adult lap and shoulder belts without a booster,
the lap portion of the belt can rise over the child's abdomen and the shoulder
portion of the belt can cut across the neck and face causing serious internal
injuries in a crash. Children can also slip out of the belt altogether and be
ejected in a crash.
     Sponsored by Ford Motor Company, in partnership with the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), NAGHSR, Nickelodeon and a variety of
other safety, health and law enforcement organizations, Boost America! is a
$15 million, multi-year child booster seat campaign that will also distribute
one million booster seats, half of which will go to families in need and half
to Ford customers.